- flay
- flay ► VERB 1) strip the skin from (a body or carcass). 2) whip or beat harshly. 3) criticize harshly.DERIVATIVES flayer noun.ORIGIN Old English.
English terms dictionary. 2015.
flay
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Flay — may refer to:* Flay Allster, a fictional character in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED * Flaying, the removal of skin from the body * Mr. Flay, a fictional character in the Gormenghast novelsPeople named Flay:* Bobby Flay (born 1964), celebrity… … Wikipedia
Flay — (fl[=a]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flayed} (fl[=a]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Flaying}.] [OE. flean, flan, AS. fle[ a]n; akin to D. vlaen, Icel. fl[=a], Sw. fl[*a], Dan. flaae, cf. Lith. pleszti to tear, plyszti, v.i., to burst, tear; perh. akin to E. flag… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
flay´er — flay «flay», transitive verb. 1. to strip off the skin or outer covering of; skin: »Whole deer were often brought in to be…flayed (George James). 2. Figurative. to scold severely; criticize without pity or mercy. 3. to rob; cheat. 4. Rare … Useful english dictionary
flay — flay; flay·er; … English syllables
flay — index denude, lash (attack verbally), lash (strike), plunder, reprimand, reproach Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton … Law dictionary
flay — [fleı] v [T] [: Old English; Origin: flean] 1.) formal to criticize someone very severely ▪ She was well known for flaying public officials in her daily column. 2.) literary to whip or beat someone very severely 3.) formal to remove the skin from … Dictionary of contemporary English
flay — [ fleı ] verb transitive 1. ) to hit or whip a person or animal severely, so that the skin is broken a ) to remove the outer layer of something, usually the skin of an animal 2. ) to criticize someone or something in a very severe or cruel way … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
flay — (v.) O.E. flean to skin (strong verb, pt. flog, pp. flagen), from P.Gmc. *flakhanan (Cf. M.Du. vlaen, O.H.G. flahan, O.N. fla), from PIE root *pleik (Cf. Gk. plessein to strike, Lith. pleЕЎiu to tear; see … Etymology dictionary
flay — vb *skin, decorticate, peel, pare Analogous words: *abrade, excoriate, chafe: rack, torture, torment, *afflict: chastise, castigate, *punish … New Dictionary of Synonyms
flay — [flā] vt. [ME flan < OE flean, akin to MDu vlaen, ON fla < IE base * plēk̑ , to tear off > FLITCH] 1. to strip off the skin or hide of, as by whipping 2. to criticize or scold mercilessly 3. to rob; pillage … English World dictionary
