ˈflā transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English flen, from Old English flēan; akin to Middle Dutch vlaen to skin, Old Norse flā to skin, Lithuanian plėšti to tear
1. : to strip off the skin or surface of : skin
flay an ox
flayed him with a lash
with her nails she'll flay thy wolfish visage — Shakespeare
2. : to subject to treatment like or likened to skinning: as
a. : to strip of possessions
the people flayed by excessive taxes
b. : to reprove harshly : criticize severely : censure , excoriate
his wife flayed him when she heard where he had been
Synonyms: see skin
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- flay a flint