lash

¹

[lash]

noun

1. the flexible part of a whip; the section of cord or the like forming the extremity of a whip.

2. a swift stroke or blow, with a whip or the like, given as a punishment.

   He received 20 lashes.

3. something that goads or pains in a manner compared to that of a whip.

   the lash of his sharp tongue.

4. a swift dashing or sweeping movement, as of an animal's tail; swish.

5. a violent beating or impact, as of waves or rain, against something.

6. an eyelash.

7. Also called neck cord. a cord or a series of cords for lifting the warp in weaving a figured fabric.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat, as with a whip or something similarly slender and flexible.

2. to beat violently or sharply against.

   The rain lashed the trees.

3. to drive by or as if by strokes of a whip.

   He lashed them on to greater effort.

4. to attack, scold, or punish severely with words.

   She lashed the students with harsh criticism.

5. to dash, fling, or switch suddenly and swiftly.

   The crocodile lashed its tail.

verb (used without object)

1. to strike vigorously at someone or something, as with a weapon or whip (often followed byout ).

   He lashed wildly at his attackers.

2. to attack or reprove someone with harsh words (often followed byout ).

   to lash out at injustice.

   Synonyms: tongue-lash, scold, berate

3. to move suddenly and swiftly; rush, dash, or flash.

   The coiled snake lashed suddenly.

4. Chiefly British.,  to spend money lavishly or foolishly (usually followed byout ).

lash

²

[lash]

verb (used with object)

1. to bind or fasten with a rope, cord, or the like.

   Synonyms: truss, rope, secure, tie

LASH

³

[lash]

noun

1. an ocean-going vessel equipped with special cranes and holds for lifting and stowing cargo-carrying barges that can be sailed up inland waterways or into port facilities from offshore.

lash

¹

/ læʃ /

noun

1. a sharp cutting blow from a whip or other flexible object

   twenty lashes was his punishment

2. the flexible end or ends of a whip

3. a cutting or hurtful blow to the feelings, as one caused by ridicule or scolding

4. a forceful beating or impact, as of wind, rain, or waves against something

5. See eyelash

6. informal,  to make an attempt at or take part in (something)

verb

1. to hit (a person or thing) sharply with a whip, rope, etc, esp as a punishment

2. (of rain, waves, etc) to beat forcefully against

3. to attack with words, ridicule, etc

4. to flick or wave sharply to and fro

   the restless panther lashed his tail

5. to urge or drive with or as if with a whip

   to lash the audience into a violent mood

lash

²

/ læʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to bind or secure with rope, string, etc

Other Word Forms

• lasher noun
• lashingly adverb
• lashless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lash¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb lashen “to deal a blow; hammer”; noun derivative of the verb; perhaps imitative of the sound

Origin of lash²

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English lasen, lace(n) “to fasten with laces, buckles, or ties,” from Old French lac(i)er, lasser, lachier to lace ( def. )

Origin of lash³

1960–65; l(ighter) a(board) sh(ip)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lash¹

C14: perhaps imitative

Origin of lash²

C15: from Old French lachier, ultimately from Latin laqueāre to ensnare, from laqueus noose

Example Sentences

Heavy rains lashed the region again last month, forcing the closure of schools and universities, disrupting rail and road travel and causing localised flooding.

Read more on Barron's

He is the proverbial New York sewer rat, cornered and lashing out in a desperate attempt to survive.

Read more on Salon

Malema was convicted of hate speech less than two months ago and often lashes out at the white minority in a country where, 31 years after apartheid ended, racial tensions still run high.

Read more on BBC

As the eye of the storm barrelled closed to the mainland, the rain lashed the city's tall buildings.

Read more on BBC

Super typhoon Ragasa, which killed at least one as it lashed through a remote island in the Philippines on Monday, is due to hit the Asian financial hub later on Tuesday.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• batter 
• buffet 
• chastise 
• knock 
• pummel 
• smack