lash

See also: LASH and Lash

English

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /læʃ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -æʃ

Etymology 1

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”).

Noun

lash (plural lashes)

drawing of a woman receiving a lash (3)
  1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.
  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.
  6. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.
    • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax, London; Melbourne, Vic.: William Heinemann, →OCLC:
      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. (botany) Flowering plants of genus Blepharis.
  9. (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[2], archived from the original on 10 January 2024:
      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[3], archived from the original on 19 August 2025:
      “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.”
  10. A quantity, a great number or amount (e.g. of rain or milk).
    • 1883, Ontario Agricultural College, Annual Report of the Ontario School of Agriculture and Experimental Farm, page 163:
      the Ayrshire cow gives a lash of milk on comparatively bare pasture
    • 1891, James Logie Robertson, Ochil Idylls: And Other Poems, page 23:
      The oaks cry oot beneath November's lashes, But not for all the months […]
    • 2014 April 22, John Creasey, The Theft of Magna Carta, House of Stratus, →ISBN, page 79:
      ... put a lash of scepticism in his tone.
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

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.
  2. (transitive) To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash.
    Heavy seas lashed the shore.
    • 1866., Chatterbox‎[4], volume XXVI, United States, page 202:
      (A swan) dashed suddenly forward with such a flutter that the water all round was lashed into foam.
    • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC‎[5], archived from the original on 4 February 2026:
      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.
  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.
  7. (intransitive) To utter censure or sarcastic language.
  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[7], archived from the original on 22 December 2011:
      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.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

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

Verb

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
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 3

From Old French lasche (French lâche).

Adjective

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. (UK, slang) Drunk. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:drunk
Derived terms

Noun

lash (uncountable)

  2. (machining, mechanical) Looseness between fitted parts, either intentional (as allowance) or unintentional (from error or wear).
    Synonyms: backlash, play, lost motion
    setting the proper valve lash for solid lifters
    excessive lash in the gear train

Anagrams

Yola

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /laʃ/

Etymology 1

From Middle English last, from Old English latost.

Adverb

lash

  1. last

Adjective

lash

  1. last[1]

Etymology 2

From Middle English lashe.

Noun

lash

  1. A slice of mackerel used as a bait.[2]

References

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Diarmaid Ó Muirithe (1990), “A Modern Glossary of the Dialect of Forth and Bargy”, in lrish University Review‎[1], volume 20, number 1, Edinburgh University Press, page 158
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