Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: flean

flay

 verb
     
flay [transitive]
1 formal to criticize someone very severely:
She was well-known for flaying public officials in her daily column.
2 literary to whip or beat someone very severely
3 formal to remove the skin from an animal or person, especially one that is dead
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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