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Webster 1913 Edition


Flay

Flay

(flā)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Flayed
(flād)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Flaying
.]
[OE.
flean
,
flan
, AS.
fleán
; akin to D.
vlaen
, Icel.
flā
, Sw.
flå
, Dan.
flaae
, cf. Lith.
pleszti
to tear,
plyszti
, v.i., to burst, tear; perh. akin to E.
flag
a flat stone,
flaw
.]
To skin; to strip off the skin or surface of;
as, to
flay
an ox; to
flay
the green earth.
With her nails
She ’ll
flay
thy wolfish visage.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Flay

FLAY

,
Verb.
T.
[Gr. whence bark, rind; probably a contracted word.]
1.
To skin; to strip off the skin of an animal; as, to flay an ox.
2.
To take off the skin or surface of any thing. [Not used.]