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flail

UK
/fleɪl/
US
/fleɪl/
flail about
flail around

Translations

flailnoun
flails
pl
UK
/fleɪl/
US
/fleɪl/
fléauOutil agricole utilisé pour battre le grain manuellement.
The farmer used a flail to separate the grain from the husks.
Le fermier a utilisé un fléau pour séparer le grain des balles.
Additional translations
fléauTechnique agricole et mécanique : élément battant mobile d’une machine.
fléauArme ou instrument ancien destiné à frapper.
Synonyms
thrash
swing
thrash about
waver
flounder
flailverb
flailed
Past Simple
flailed
Past Participle
flailing
Gerund
UK
/fleɪl/
US
/fleɪl/
agiterEn parlant surtout des bras ou des membres, avec mouvements désordonnés.
The child began to flail his arms in excitement.
L’enfant a commencé à agiter les bras de manière désordonnée d’excitation.
se débattreSe battre contre une difficulté, dans l’eau, la panique ou la confusion.
She began to flail in the water when she realized she couldn't touch the bottom.
Elle a commencé à se débattre dans l’eau lorsqu’elle a compris qu’elle ne touchait pas le fond.
Additional translations
battreSens agricole : battre le grain au fléau ou comme avec un fléau.
Synonyms
fumble
writhe
wave
flounder
swing
thrash
flailadjective
Used attributively before another noun (e.g. "flail mower") to denote equipment or processes that employ flails.

Definitions

flailnoun
A tool consisting of a wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it, used in manual threshing.
The farmer used a flail to separate the grain from the husks.
An instrument for flogging or beating.
The medieval knight carried a flail as part of his weaponry.
A free-swinging blade, chain, or other striking element mounted on the rotating drum of a mower or similar machine.
The flails on the mower had to be replaced after hitting a rock.
flailverb
To wave or swing wildly.
The child began to flail his arms in excitement.
To struggle or thrash about, often in a state of panic or confusion.
She began to flail in the water when she realized she couldn't touch the bottom.
To beat or thresh (grain, etc.) with or as if with a flail; to strike repeatedly.
In the barn the workers flailed the barley until chaff filled the air.
flailadjective
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