flail

English

/fleɪl/

noun
Definitions
  • A tool used for threshing, consisting of a long handle with a shorter stick attached with a short piece of chain, thong or similar material.
  • A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English flaile inherited from Old English fligel inherited from Proto-Germanic *flagilaz (flail, whip) derived from Old French fil (thread) derived from Latin fīlum (thread) derived from Proto-Germanic *flag- derived from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂k- (hit, beat, strike, weep) derived from Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (diminutive suffix) derived from Latin flagellum (whip, whipping flail) derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlag- (strike, beat, hit).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*bʰlag-

Gloss

strike, beat, hit

Concept
Semantic Field

Basic actions and technology

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms