lash

noun
/læʃ/UK

Etymology

From Middle English lashe, lasshe, lasche (“a stroke; the flexible end of a whip”), from Proto-Germanic *laskô (“flap of fabric, strap”). Cognate with Dutch lasch, las (“a piece; seal; joint; notch; seam”), German Low German Laske, Lask (“a flap; dag; strap”), German Lasche (“a flap; joint; strap; tongue; scarf”), Swedish lask (“scarf”), Icelandic laski (“the bottom part of a glove”).

  1. inherited from *laskô
  2. inherited from lashe

Definitions

  1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.

    • I observed that your whip wanted a lash to it.
  2. A leash in which an animal is caught or held

    A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare.

  3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough, often given as a punishment.

    • The culprit received thirty-nine lashes.
  4. + 25 more definitions
    1. A quick and violent sweeping movement, as of an animal's tail

      A quick and violent sweeping movement, as of an animal's tail; a swish.

    2. A stroke of satire or sarcasm

      A stroke of satire or sarcasm; an expression or retort that cuts or gives pain; a cut.

      • The moral is a lash at the vanity of arrogating that to ourselves which succeeds well.
    3. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid

      A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.

      • But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.
    4. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form…

      In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.

    5. Flowering plants of genus Blepharis.

    6. An attempt

      An attempt; a go at something.

      • I'll have a lash.
      • “I felt I’d go out and grab the bull by the horns and give it a good lash and I’m very pleased to come away with second in my very first Diamond League final.”
    7. A quantity, a great number or amount (e.g. of rain or milk).

      • the Ayrshire cow gives a lash of milk on comparatively bare pasture
      • The oaks cry oot beneath November's lashes, But not for all the months[…]
      • ... put a lash of scepticism in his tone.
    8. To strike with a lash

      To strike with a lash; to whip or scourge with a lash, or with something like one.

      • We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward
      • A lesbian who was lashed as a teenager for saying she was gay.
    9. To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash

      To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash.

      • Heavy seas lashed the shore.
      • Carlo Ancelotti's out-of-sorts team struggled to hit the target in the first half as Bolton threatened with Matthew Taylor lashing just wide.
    10. To throw out with a jerk or quickly.

      • He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws.
    11. To scold

      To scold; or to satirize; to censure with severity.

    12. To ply the whip

      To ply the whip; to strike.

    13. To strike vigorously

      To strike vigorously; to let fly.

      • In the final minute of six added on, Colombia would undo their good work, though, Pérez fumbling the ball allowing Hemp to lash into the empty net.
    14. To utter censure or sarcastic language.

      • To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice.
    15. To fall heavily, especially in the phrase lash down.

      • With rain lashing across the ground at kick-off and every man in Auckland seemingly either English-born or supporting Scotland, Eden Park was transformed into Murrayfield in March.
    16. Used in phrasal verbs

      Used in phrasal verbs: lash back, lash out.

    17. To bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten.

      • to lash something to a spar
      • lash a pack on a horse's back
    18. Remiss, lax.

    19. Relaxed.

    20. Soft, watery, wet.

      • Fruits being unwholesome and lash before the fourth or fifth Yeare.
    21. Excellent, wonderful.

      • We’re off school tomorrow, it’s gonna be lash!
      • That Chinese (food) was lash!
    22. Drunk.

    23. Looseness between fitted parts, either intentional (as allowance) or unintentional (from…

      Looseness between fitted parts, either intentional (as allowance) or unintentional (from error or wear).

      • setting the proper valve lash for solid lifters
      • excessive lash in the gear train
    24. A surname.

    25. Acronym of lighter-aboard-ship.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for lash. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA