lash

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lash

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• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /læʃ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æʃ

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”).

lash (plural lashes)

1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.
   • 1711 July 15 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “WEDNESDAY, July 4, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 108; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, , volume II, New York, N.Y.: D Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:

     I observed that your whip wanted a lash to it.

     The spelling has been modernized.

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.
   • 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: , London: R Sare, , →OCLC:

     The moral is a lash at the vanity of arrogating that to ourselves which succeeds well.

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:

     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:

     “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.”

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.
   • 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “ The First Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. , London: Jacob Tonson , →OCLC:

     We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward

   • 1994 October, “Lesbian Launches Transkei Gay Group”, in Gay Community News, page 4:

     A lesbian who was lashed as a teenager for saying she was gay.

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:

     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.
   • 1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. , London: Jacob Tonson, , →OCLC:

     He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws.

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:

     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.
   • 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “ The Fifth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. , London: Jacob Tonson , →OCLC:

     To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice.

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:

     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.

• (to whip or scourge): Thesaurus:whip

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

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

From Old French lasche (French lâche).

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. (British) Drunk.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:drunk

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

• backlash
• play

• HLAs, lahs, HALs, Hals, Ahls, Sahl, shal

From Middle English *las (a corruption of last), from Old English latost. Compare also fash and bash.

• IPA^(key): /lɔːʃ/

lash

1. last

lash

1. last

• lauthest (“latest”)

• Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) 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, published 1867, page 52