flail

UK: /ˈfleɪl/ US: /fleɪl/ ,(flāl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

flail /fleɪl/   n. [countable]

1. an instrument for threshing grain by hand.

v. 

2. to beat or swing as if with a flail: [no object]
   The baby's arms were flailing about.
   [~ + object]
   The baby flailed his arms around. Her arms flailed the water.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

flail  (flāl), n. 

1. an instrument for threshing grain, consisting of a staff or handle to one end of which is attached a freely swinging stick or bar.
2. a similar instrument used as a weapon of war.

v.t., v.i. 

3. to beat or swing with or as if with a flail.

• Late Latin flagellum flail, Latin: whip, scourge. See flagellum
• WGmc *flagil-
• Middle English fleil (noun, nominal), Old English flighel (probably misspelling of *flegil), cognate with Dutch vlegel, German Flegel bef. 1100

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flail / fleɪl/ noun

1. an implement used for threshing grain, consisting of a wooden handle with a free-swinging metal or wooden bar attached to it

verb

1. (transitive) to beat or thrash with or as if with a flail
2. to move or be moved like a flail; thresh about: with arms flailing

Etymology: 12th Century fleil, ultimately from Late Latin flagellum flail, from Latin: whip