lash

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Contents

English [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology 1 [edit]

This definition is lacking an etymology or has an incomplete etymology. You can help Wiktionary by giving it a proper etymology.

Noun [edit]

lash (plural lashes)

  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. — Joseph Addison.
  2. (obsolete) A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare.
  3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough.
    The culprit received thirty-nine lashes.
  4. 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. — Roger L'Estrange
  5. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.
  6. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.
Translations [edit]
thong of a whip
obsolete: a snare
stroke with a whip
stroke of satire or sarcasm
eyelash; hair growing from the eyelid — see eyelash
group of strings for lifting certain yarns

Verb [edit]

lash (third-person singular simple present lashes, present participle lashing, simple past and past participle lashed)

  1. (transitive) 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. — John Dryden
  2. (transitive) To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash.
    the whale lashes the sea with its tail.
    And big waves lash the frighted shores. — John Dryden
    • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, BBC:
      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.
  3. (transitive) To throw out with a jerk or quickly.
    He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws. — John Dryden
  4. (transitive) To scold; to berate; to satirize; to censure with severity.
    to lash vice
  5. (transitive) 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
  6. (intransitive) To ply the whip; to strike.
  7. (intransitive) To utter censure or sarcastic language.
    To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice. — John Dryden
  8. (intransitive, of rain) To fall heavily, especially in the phrase lash down
    • 2011 October 1, Tom Fordyce, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland”, BBC Sport:
      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.
Translations [edit]
strike with a lash
strike forcibly, beat as if with a lash
throw out with a jerk
scold
bind with a rope
ply the whip
utter censure

See also [edit]

Etymology 2 [edit]

From Old French lasche (French lâche).

Adjective [edit]

lash (comparative more lash, superlative most lash)

  1. (obsolete) Remiss, lax.
  2. (obsolete) Relaxed.
  3. Soft, watery, wet.
    • 1658: Fruits being unwholesome and lash before the fourth or fifth Yeare. — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 211)
  4. (Mid-Ulster, Northern Ireland) excellent, wonderful
    We’re off school tomorrow, it’s gonna be lash!
    That chinese (food) was lash!
  5. Drunk.
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