■ verb
1》 strike or beat with a whip or stick.
↘beat forcefully against: waves ~ed the coast.
↘( ~ out ) hit or kick out.
↘( ~ out ) launch a verbal attack.
2》 (of an animal) move (a part of the body, especially the tail) quickly and violently.
3》 fasten securely with a cord or rope.
4》 ( ~ out ) Brit. spend money extravagantly.
■ noun
1》 a sharp blow or stroke with a whip or stick.
2》 the flexible leather part of a whip.
3》 an eye~.
Derivatives
-~ed adjective
~er noun
~less adjective
Origin
ME (in the sense 'make a sudden movement'): prob. imitative.