# flay

> English word · Verb · IPA /fleɪ/ · frequency rank #53,547

## Definitions
1. To cause to fly; put to flight; drive off (by frightening).
2. To frighten; scare; terrify.
3. To be fear-stricken.

## Etymology
From Middle English flayen, flaien, fleien, from Old English *flīeġan ("to cause to fly, put to flight, frighten"; found only in compounds: āflīeġan), from Proto-Germanic *flaugijaną (“to let fly, cause to fly”), causative of Proto-Germanic *fleuganą (“to fly”).

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