Flail

Quick meaning: Flail is a noun meaning A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.

Meaning

A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.

More Meanings

1. (often plural) Part of a rotating device, often used for cutting vegetation.
2. (transitive) To beat using a flail or similar implement.
3. (transitive) To wave or swing vigorously
4. (transitive) To thresh.
5. (intransitive) To move like a flail.
6. A tool used for threshing, consisting of a long handle (handstock) with a shorter stick (swipple or swingle) attached with a short piece of chain, thong or similar material.

Example Sentences

He was flailing wildly, but didn't land a blow.

Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail

He stopped in his tracks – then, flailing his arms wildly in the air, began to stagger backwards.

On him alone the curse of Cain Fell, like a flail on the garnered grain, And struck him to the earth!

Word Forms

• flails
• flailing
• flailed

Synonyms for flail

Depending on context, synonyms include frail, thrashel, threshel, thrash, thresh, lam.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include thresh, thrash, lam, swingle, swipple, swiple.

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