lash Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids
    eyelash; cilium.
  2. noun leather strip that forms the flexible part of a whip
    thong.
  3. noun a quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object
    whiplash; whip.
    • the whip raised a red welt
  4. verb beat severely with a whip or rod
    trounce; strap; welt; whip; slash; flog; lather.
    • The teacher often flogged the students
    • The children were severely trounced
  5. verb lash or flick about sharply
    • The lion lashed its tail
  6. verb strike as if by whipping
    whip.
    • The curtain whipped her face
  7. verb bind with a rope, chain, or cord
    • lash the horse

WordNet

Lash noun
Etymology
OE. lasche; cf. D. lasch piece set in, joint, seam, G. lashe latchet, a bit of leather, gusset, stripe, laschen to furnish with flaps, to lash or slap, Icel. laski gusset, flap, laska to break.
Definitions
  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. Addison.
  2. A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare. Obs.
  3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough; as, 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. 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.
Lash transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lashed ; present participle & verbal noun Lashng
Definitions
  1. 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. Dryden.
  2. To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash; as, a whale lashes the sea with his tail.
    And big waves lash the frighted shores. Dryden.
  3. To throw out with a jerk or quickly.
    He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws. Dryden.
  4. To scold; to berate; to satirize; to censure with severity; as, to lash vice.
Lash
Definitions
  1. ,. v. i. To ply the whip; to strike; to uttercensure or sarcastic language.
    To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice. Dryden.
Lash transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. D. lasschen to fasten together, lasch piece, joint, Sw. laska to stitch, Dan. laske stitch. See Lash, n.
Definitions
  1. To bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten; as, to lash something to a spar; to lash a pack on a horse's back.

Webster 1913