flail (redirected from flailing)

flail  (fll)

n.

A manual threshing device consisting of a long wooden handle or staff and a shorter, free-swinging stick attached to its end.

v. flailed, flail·ing, flails

v.tr.

1. To beat or strike with or as if with a flail: flailed our horses with the reins.

2. To wave or swing vigorously; thrash: flailed my arms to get their attention.

3. To thresh using a flail.

v.intr.

1. To move vigorously or erratically; thrash about: arms flailing helplessly in the water.

2. To strike or lash out violently: boxers flailing at each other in the ring.

3. To thresh grain.

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[Middle English, from Old English flegil and from Old French flaiel, both from Late Latin flagellum, threshing tool, from Latin flagrum, whip.]

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flail

Noun

a tool formerly used for threshing grain by hand

Verb

1. to wave about wildly: arms flailing, they staggered about

2. to beat with or as if with a flail [Latin flagellum whip]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	flail - an implement consisting of handle with a free swinging stick at the end; used in manual threshing implement - instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
Verb	1.	flail - give a thrashing to; beat hard thrash, lam, thresh beat up, work over, beat - give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression; "Thugs beat him up when he walked down the street late at night"; "The teacher used to beat the students" drub, lick, clobber, cream, bat, thrash - beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight; "We licked the other team on Sunday!"
	2.	flail - move like a flail; thresh about; "Her arms were flailing" thresh flap, beat - move with a flapping motion; "The bird's wings were flapping"

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flail

verb thrash, beat, windmill, thresh