lash

[lash]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lash ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

a swift stroke or blow, with a whip or the like, given as a punishment: He received 20 lashes.

something that goads or pains in a manner compared to that of a whip: the lash of his sharp tongue.

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

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

an eyelash.

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

verb (used with object)

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

to beat violently or sharply against: The rain lashed the trees.

to drive by or as if by strokes of a whip: He lashed them on to greater effort.

to attack, scold, or punish severely with words: She lashed the students with harsh criticism.

to dash, fling, or switch suddenly and swiftly: The crocodile lashed its tail.

verb (used without object)

to strike vigorously at someone or something, as with a weapon or whip (often followed by out): He lashed wildly at his attackers.

to attack or reprove someone with harsh words (often followed by out): to lash out at injustice.

to move suddenly and swiftly; rush, dash, or flash: The coiled snake lashed suddenly.

Chiefly British. to spend money lavishly or foolishly (usually followed by out).

Origin of lash

1300–50; Middle English lashe (noun), lashen (v.); perhaps of expressive orig.

Related formslash·er, nounlash·ing·ly, adverblash·less, adjective

Synonyms for lash

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lash ON THESAURUS.COM

14. berate, scold, tongue-lash.

lash

[lash]

verb (used with object)

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

Origin of lash

1400–50; late Middle English lasschyn, probably < Middle Dutch or Low German; compare Middle Dutch lasche patch, gusset, Dutch laschen to patch, scarf

Related formslash·er, nounlash·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms for lash

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lash ON THESAURUS.COM

tie, secure, rope, truss.

LASH

[lash]

noun

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.

Origin of LASH

1960–65; l(ighter) a(board) sh(ip)

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

Related Words for lash

knock, pummel, chastise, buffet, smack, batter, scold, castigate, berate, lam, pound, hide, drum, scourge, hammer, flay, strap, dash, strike, baste

Examples from the Web for lash

Contemporary Examples of lash

And activists have used the semi-anonymity of social media to lash out against the government.
Egypt’s LGBTs Fight Grindr Crackdown
Jay Michaelson
October 18, 2014
But all of them add up to a coiled-up rage, ready to lash out at the nearest target.
Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage
Arthur Chu
October 16, 2014
And when you peacefully protest their stereotyping of you, they lash back at you and they call you horrendous, horrific names.
Amanda Blackhorse Is ‘Confident’ Snyder Will Lose His Redskins Appeal
Robert Silverman
June 25, 2014
Hammami followed his video by taking to Twitter to lash out at Shabaab and its emir.
Syria’s Jihadist Twitter Wars
Bill Roggio
February 16, 2014
The unending negotiations have given Israel the domestic stability to lash out in the region, using its American made weapons.
The Oslo Accords Have Served U.S. and Israeli Interests, But Not Palestine's
Jesse Rosenfeld
September 16, 2013

Historical Examples of lash

But the lash of the whip found his face, and marked it for a time worse than the small-pox.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Even the puling creature writhed under the lash of Mary's tones.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
His hand was smarting as though struck with the lash of a whip.
Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates
Howard Pyle
But having a raisin in my mouth I could not on the instant respond to the lash.
It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
Does it hold back the lash from the slave, or sweeten his bitter bread?
The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier

British Dictionary definitions for lash

lash

noun

a sharp cutting blow from a whip or other flexible objecttwenty lashes was his punishment

the flexible end or ends of a whip

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

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

See eyelash

have a lash Australian and NZ informal to make an attempt at or take part in (something)

verb (tr)

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

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

to attack with words, ridicule, etc

to flick or wave sharply to and frothe restless panther lashed his tail

to urge or drive with or as if with a whipto lash the audience into a violent mood

Word Origin for lash

C14: perhaps imitative

lash

verb

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

Derived Formslasher, noun

Word Origin for lash

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

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

Word Origin and History for lash

c.1300, las "a blow, a stroke," later "flexible part of a whip" (late 14c.), possibly imitative. The verb might be the source of the noun.

v.2

"bind," 1620s, originally nautical, from Middle French lachier, from Old French lacier "to lace" (see lace (v.)). Related: Lashed; lashing.

v.1

"to strike with a whip," c.1300, "to deal a blow;" later "to whip" (late 14c.); see lash (n.). Lash out "to strike out violently" is from 1560s. Related: Lashed; lashing.