Flail

Pronunciation: /fleɪl/

Definitions of flail

noun a manual threshing implement consisting of a wooden handle at the end of which a stouter and shorter stick is so hung as to swing freely

Example Sentences

A1 She used a flail to separate the wheat from the chaff.

A2 The farmer swung the flail back and forth to thresh the grain.

B1 The medieval knight wielded a flail in battle.

B2 The criminal brandished a flail as he attempted to rob the bank.

C1 The museum displayed an ancient flail used by farmers in the Middle Ages.

C2 The expert historian explained the significance of the flail as a tool of agricultural revolution.

Examples of flail in a Sentence

formal The knight used a flail to fight off the enemy soldiers.

informal He was flailing around trying to fix the broken machine.

slang She was flailing on the dance floor last night.

figurative His emotions were in a constant state of flail after the breakup.

Grammatical Forms of flail

• past tense: flailed
• plural: flails
• comparative: more flail
• superlative: most flail
• present tense: flail
• future tense: will flail
• perfect tense: have flailed
• continuous tense: is flailing
• singular: flail
• positive degree: flail
• infinitive: to flail
• gerund: flailing
• participle: flailing

Origin and Evolution of flail

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'flail' originated from the Old English word 'flegil' which was derived from the Latin word 'flagellum' meaning 'whip'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'flail' has evolved from its original meaning of a threshing tool to also refer to a weapon or a tool used for striking or beating.