# flail

> English word · Noun · IPA /fleɪl/ · frequency rank #49,921

## Definitions
1. A tool used for threshing, consisting of a long handle (handstock) with a shorter stick (swipple or swingle) attached with a short piece of chain, thong or similar material.
2. A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.
3. Part of a rotating device, often used for cutting vegetation.

## Etymology
From Middle English flayle, from earlier fleil, fleyl, fleȝȝl, from Old English fligel, *flegel (“flail”), from Proto-West Germanic *flagil, of uncertain origin. Cognate with Scots flail (“a thresher's flail”), West Frisian fleil, flaaiel (“flail”), Dutch vlegel (“flail”), German Flegel (“flail”). Possibly a native Germanic word from Proto-Germanic *flagilaz (“whip”), from Proto-Germanic *flag-, *flah- (“to whip, beat”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂k- (“to beat, hit, strike; weep”); compare Old Norse flaga (“sudden attack, bout”), Lithuanian plàkti (“to whip, lash, flog”), Ancient Greek πληγνύναι (plēgnúnai, “strike, hit, encounter”), Latin plangō (“lament”, i.e. “beat one's breast”) + Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (instrumental suffix). If so, related also to English flag, flack, flacker.
Alternatively, Proto-West Germanic *flagil may be an early borrowing of Latin flagellum (“winnowing tool, thresher”), diminutive of flagrum (“scourge, whip”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlag-, *bʰlaǵ- (“to beat”); compare Old Norse blekkja (“to beat, mistreat”). Compare also Old French flael (“flail”), Walloon flayea (“flail”) (locally pronounced "flai"), Italian flagello (“scourge, whip, plague”).

## Easily confused with
- **flat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flat)
- **flip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flip)
- **FOIL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-foil)
- **flaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flaw)
- **flap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flap)
- **flak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flak)
- **flax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flax)
- **foal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-foal)
- **flash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flash)
- **fluid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-fluid)
- **flame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flame)
- **flank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flank)
- **flare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flare)
- **flair** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flair)
- **frail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-frail)
- **flake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flake)
- **flaps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flaps)
- **flask** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flask)
- **flaky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-flaky)
- **fulfil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flail-vs-fulfil)

## Common misspellings (7)
`falil`, `fflail`, `flaill`, `flali`, `flial`, `fllail`, `lfail`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/flail