# lash

> English word · Noun · IPA /læʃ/ · frequency rank #17,657

## Definitions
1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.
2. 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.
4. A quick and violent sweeping movement, as of an animal's tail; a swish.
5. A stroke of satire or sarcasm; an expression or retort that cuts or gives pain; a cut.
6. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.
7. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.
8. Flowering plants of genus Blepharis.
9. An attempt; a go at something.
10. A quantity, a great number or amount (e.g. of rain or milk).

## 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”).

## Easily confused with
- **Ls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-ls)
- **law** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-law)
- **los** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-los)
- **lay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lay)
- **les** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-les)
- **lbs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lbs)
- **lax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lax)
- **LSU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lsu)
- **Lau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lau)
- **LSD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lsd)
- **LDS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lds)
- **LAT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lat)
- **lis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lis)
- **LCS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lcs)
- **LST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lst)
- **Leh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-leh)
- **Loh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-loh)
- **lav** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lav)
- **LSC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-lsc)
- **last** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lash-vs-last)

## Common misspellings (6)
`alsh`, `lahs`, `lashh`, `lassh`, `llash`, `lsah`

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