flail

flail
[fleɪl]
noun
  1. a threshing tool consisting of a wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it
    连枷
    ■a similar device used as a weapon or for flogging
    连枷状武器；鞭笞用的连枷状器具
    ■a machine for threshing or slashing, with a similar action
    连枷式脱粒机（或切割机）
    [as modifier]a flail hedge trimmer.
    连枷式绿篱修剪机。
verb
  1. wave or swing or cause to wave or swing wildly
    使大幅波动（或摇摆）
    [no obj.]his arms were flailing helplessly.
    他的双臂无助地狂舞着。
    [with obj.]he flailed his arms and drove her away.
    他猛挥着双臂撵走了她。
    ■[no obj.]flounder; struggle uselessly
    踉跄；徒劳地挣扎
    I was flailing about in the water.
    我在水中徒劳地四下挣扎。
    he flailed around on the snow.
    他踉踉跄跄地走在雪地上。
  2. [with obj.]beat; flog
    打，揍；鞭笞，抽打
    he escorted them, flailing their shoulders with his cane.
    他押着他们，用藤条抽打他们的肩膀。
语源
  1. Old English, of West Germanic origin, based on Latin flagellum 'whip' (see flagellum); probably influenced in Middle English by Old French flaiel or Dutch vlegel
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