First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
flay
verb \ˈflā\
: to beat or whip (someone or something) in a very violent and severe way
Full Definition of FLAY
transitive verb
1
: to strip off the skin or surface of : skin
2
: to criticize harshly : excoriate
3
: lash 1b <the wind whipped up to gale fury, flaying his face — Richard Kent>
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Origin of FLAY
Middle English flen, from Old English flēan; akin to Old Norse flā to flay, Lithuanian plėšti to tear
Related to FLAY
Rhymes with FLAY
a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea
FLAY Defined for Kids
flay
verb \ˈflā\
flayedflay·ing
Definition of FLAY for Kids
1
: to strip off the skin or surface of
2
: to beat severely
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