flay

[ fley ]
See synonyms for: flayflayed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to strip off the skin or outer covering of.

  2. to criticize or scold with scathing severity.

  1. to deprive or strip of money or property.

Origin of flay

1
before 900; Middle English flen,Old English flēan; cognate with Middle Dutch vlaen,Old Norse flā

Other words for flay

Other words from flay

  • flayer, noun
  • un·flayed, adjective

Words Nearby flay

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How to use flay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flay

flay

/ (fleɪ) /


verb(tr)
  1. to strip off the skin or outer covering of, esp by whipping; skin

  2. to attack with savage criticism

  1. to strip of money or goods, esp by cheating or extortion

Origin of flay

1
Old English flēan; related to Old Norse flā to peel, Lithuanian pl e šti to tear

Derived forms of flay

  • flayer, noun

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