FLAIL - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Noun
an implement consisting of handle with a free swinging stick at the end; used in manual threshing
Categories: Implement
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Verb
move like a flail; thresh about
Example: Her arms were flailing
Categories: Beat, Flap
Synonyms
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "flail" comes from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlag-. It started in Latin flagellum. Then it appeared in Proto-Germanic *-ilaz. Later, people used it in Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂k-. After that, it was Proto-Germanic *flag-. Over time, it became Proto-Germanic *flagilaz. Finally, it reached Proto-West Germanic *flagil. It started in Old English fligel. Then it appeared in Middle English flaile. Many other languages have similar words:.
- Scots: flail
- West Frisian: fleil
- Dutch: vlegel
- Low German: vlegel
- German: Flegel
- Lithuanian: plàkti
- Ancient Greek: πληγνύναι
- Latin: plangō
- Old Norse: blekkja
- Old French: flael
- Walloon: flayea
- Italian: flagello
🧩 Fun Fact
A word passing through this many languages survived because it named something universally important.