flay

[ fley ]

/ fleɪ /

verb (used with object)

to strip off the skin or outer covering of.

to criticize or scold with scathing severity.

to deprive or strip of money or property.

Nearby words

flax, flax kit, flaxen, flaxman, flaxseed, flay, flaysome, fld, fld., fldxt, flea

Origin of flay

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

SYNONYMS FOR flay

2 castigate, excoriate, upbraid, chew out.

Related forms

flay·er, nounun·flayed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for flayer

"By John the Flayer's pony," said Pete; and he laughed and made light of his night-long walk.
The Manxman|Hall Caine
He could imagine the thousands watching grimly while the flayer used his knife.
King--of the Khyber Rifles|Talbot Mundy
He is a treacherous dog and may the flayer get all such treacherous dogs!
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume I (of 3)|Alexander Wheelock Thayer

British Dictionary definitions for flayer

flay

/ (fleɪ) /

verb (tr)

to strip off the skin or outer covering of, esp by whipping; skin

to attack with savage criticism

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

Derived Forms

flayer, noun

Word Origin for flay

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012