lash

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See also: LASH and Lash

English[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /læʃ/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -æʃ

Etymology 1[edit]

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”).

Noun[edit]

lash (plural lashes)

drawing of a woman receiving a lash (3)
  1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.
  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, often given as a punishment.
    The culprit received thirty-nine lashes.
  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.
    • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
      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.
  7. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.
  8. (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, informal) An attempt; a go at something.
    Synonym: (UK) bash
    I'll have a lash.
    • 2021 August 28, Grant Smithies, “The Dark Remains: Ian Rankin's 'terrifying' return”, in Stuff‎[1]:
      Much-loved characters living on after their author’s death is not so unusual these days. Every second bloke in possession of a keyboard seems to have had a lash at a James Bond thriller, including Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, Jeffery Deaver, William Boyd, Anthony Horowitz, Christopher Wood and Sebastian Faulks.
    • 2022 September 9, Cathal Dennehy, “Ciara Mageean shines in Diamond League to claim second”, in Irish Examiner‎[2]:
      “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.”
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
eyelash; hair growing from the eyelid — see eyelash

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.
  2. (transitive) To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash.
    • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC‎[3]:
      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.
  4. (transitive) To scold; or to satirize; to censure with severity.
    Synonym: berate
  5. (intransitive) To ply the whip; to strike.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  6. (intransitive) To strike vigorously; to let fly.
    • 2023 August 12, Suzanne Wrack, “England hit back to beat Colombia and set up World Cup semi with Australia”, in The Guardian‎[4]:
      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.
  7. (intransitive) To utter censure or sarcastic language.
  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”, in BBC Sport‎[5]:
      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.
  9. Used in phrasal verbs: lash back, lash out.
Synonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle French lachier, from Old French lacier (“to lace”).

Verb[edit]

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

  1. (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
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]

Etymology 3[edit]

From Old French lasche (French lâche).

Adjective[edit]

lash (comparative more lash, superlative most lash)

  1. (obsolete) Remiss, lax.
    Synonyms: at fault, blameworthy, neglectful, negligent, reprehensible
  2. (obsolete) Relaxed.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:carefree, Thesaurus:calm
  3. Soft, watery, wet.
    Synonyms: spongy, squidgy; see also Thesaurus:wet
    • 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus, Folio Society, published 2007, page 211:
      Fruits being unwholesome and lash before the fourth or fifth Yeare.
  4. (Ulster) Excellent, wonderful.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:excellent
    We’re off school tomorrow, it’s gonna be lash!
    That Chinese (food) was lash!
  5. (Britain) Drunk.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:drunk

Noun[edit]

lash (uncountable)

  1. (machining, mechanical) 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
Synonyms[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Yola[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English laste, from Old English latost.

Adverb[edit]

lash

  1. last

Adjective[edit]

lash

  1. last

Related terms[edit]

References[edit]

  • Jacob Poole (1867), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, page 52
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