Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object)
- to strip off the skin or outer covering of.
- to criticize or scold with scathing severity.
- to deprive or strip of money or property.
verb (tr)
- to strip off the skin or outer covering of, esp by whipping; skin
- to attack with savage criticism
- to strip of money or goods, esp by cheating or extortion
Old English flean “to skin” (strong verb, past tense flog, past participle flagen), from Proto-Germanic *flakhanan (cf. Middle Dutch vlaen, Old High German flahan, Old Norse fla), from PIE root *plak- (2) “to hit” (cf. Greek plessein “to strike,” Lithuanian plešiu “to tear;” see plague (n.)). Related: Flayed; flaying.