• (British, America) IPA: /læʃ/

From Middle English lashe, lasshe, lasche ("a stroke; the flexible end of a whip"), from Proto-Germanic *laskô.

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[aniel] 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[ichard] 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.
7. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.
8. (AU, NZ, Ireland, informal) An attempt; a go at something.

   Synonyms: bash

   I'll have a lash.

• French: lanière
• German: Schlag, Peitschenschnur
• Italian: staffile
• Russian: плеть

• French: coup de fouet
• German: Peitschenhieb, Hieb
• Italian: staffilata, sferzata
• Russian: удар хлыст
• Spanish: látigo, zurriagazo, latigazo

• Italian: sferzata
• Russian: резкий упрёк

lash (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 Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The First Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: Printed for Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC ↗:

     We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward

2. (transitive) To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash.
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.

   Synonyms: berate

5. (intransitive) To ply the whip; to strike.

6. (intransitive) To strike vigorously; to let fly.
7. (intransitive) To utter censure or sarcastic language.
   • 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Fifth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: Printed for 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.
9. Used in phrasal verbs: lash back, lash out.

• (to whip or scourge) Thesaurus:whip

• French: fouetter
• Russian: поро́ть
• Spanish: fustigar, hostigar

• French: gronder
• Italian: rimproverare

From Middle French lachier, from Old French lacier.

lash (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

1. (obsolete) Remiss, lax.

   Synonyms: at fault, blameworthy, neglectful, negligent, reprehensible

2. (obsolete) Relaxed.

   Synonyms: Thesaurus:carefree, Thesaurus:calm

3. Soft, watery, wet.

   Synonyms: spongy, squidgy, 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: Thesaurus:excellent

   We’re off school tomorrow, it’s gonna be lash!

   That Chinese (food) was lash!

5. (Britain) Drunk.

   Synonyms: 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

1. Surname.

lash (not comparable)

1. (nautical) Acronym of lighter-aboard-ship