flail
[verb]
Synonyms: thrash, beat, thresh, windmill

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. flail¹ /fleɪl/ verb

1. [intransitive and transitive] to wave your arms or legs in an uncontrolled way:
He flailed wildly as she tried to hold him down.
flail around/about
James flailed about in the shallow water.

2. [transitive] to beat someone or something violently, usually with a stick

3. [intransitive and transitive] to beat grain with a flail

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. flail² noun [countable]
[Date: 1000-1100; Language: Latin; Origin: flagellum 'whip, flail']
a tool consisting of a stick that swings from a long handle, used in the past to separate grain from wheat by beating it

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

flail
verb
ADV. desperately, helplessly, wildly She ran along, her arms flailing wildly.
about, around He flailed about in the water, shouting ‘I can't swim!’

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲