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   flail

   /flāl/

   noun

   • 1. a threshing tool consisting of a wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it.
   • ▪ a device similar to a flail, used as a weapon or for flogging.
   • ▪ a machine having an action similar to a flail, used for threshing or slashing: "a flail hedge trimmer"

   verb

   • 1. wave or swing or cause to wave or swing wildly: "his arms were flailing helplessly" Similar waveswingthrash aroundflap aroundbeat aroundwindmillmove erratically
   • ▪ flounder; struggle uselessly: "I was flailing about in the water" Similar flounderstrugglethrashthreshsquirmwrigglewrithetwistsplashstumbleblunderfumblewiggletwitch
   • 2. beat; flog: "he escorted them, flailing their shoulders with his cane" Similar thrashbeatstrikebatterdrubflogwhiplashscourgeflayflagellatestrapswitchtancanetan/whip someone's hidegive someone a hidingbeat the living daylights out ofcloutweltbelaborinformal:wallopwhacklamgive someone a (good) hidinglarrup

   Word Origin Old English, of West Germanic origin, based on Latin flagellum ‘whip’ (see flagellum); probably influenced in Middle English by Old French flaiel or Dutch vlegel.

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • F

     4

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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