lash

lash¹ to strike, whip

Etymology

The verb meaning to strike is inherited from Middle English lashen (“to deal a blow; to move violently”),^[2][3][4] probably of imitative origin.^{[2][5][6][7][8]} The OED calls the etymology difficult: an imitative origin is possible and is supported by the early, nearly synonymous lushen, like the pairs dash, flash and smash.^[4][2] Weekley saw in it something of slash and of French lâcher (“to let go”) in the sense of letting fly.^[9] The noun, first las (“a blow, stroke”) and later lashe, is probably from the verb.^{[10][11][4][3]} The Century Dictionary, cited by Etymonline, took Irish lasg (“a lash, whip”) to be from English.^[11]

Earliest recorded meaning

To make a sudden movement, to dash; to deal a blow: about 1330, in Arthour and Merlin,^[4][10] where the noun, a sudden blow, also first appears.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The oldest senses were of swift, violent movement and of a blow in general.^[4][2] Whipping came a little later: the noun is used of the flexible part of a whip about 1381, in Chaucer's Parlement of Foules,^[4][10] and the verb "to flog" in 1398, in Trevisa.^[4][10] Lash out, to strike out violently and originally of horses kicking, is recorded from 1567 and keeps the older sense.^[4][11] Shakespeare used the verb for rebuking or satirizing,^[4] and Johnson (1755) defined the noun as a stroke with anything pliant and tough.^[12] From 1694 the lash was the punishment of flogging,^[4][11] and since 1796 the word has also been short for eyelash.^[4] Australian and New Zealand English has have a lash, to have a try, from 1941.^[4][13] In Scots and northern dialects a lash was also a heavy fall of rain.^[14]

Timeline

• c. 1330 – verb, to make a sudden movement; to strike; noun, a sudden blow.^[4][10]
• c. 1381 – noun, the flexible part of a whip.^[4][10]
• 1398 – verb, to flog, beat with a lash.^[4][10]
• 1567 – lash out, to strike out violently.^[4][11]
• before 1616 – verb, to rebuke or satirize (Shakespeare).^[4]
• 1694 – the lash, punishment by flogging; of waves, to beat on the shore.^[4]
• 1796 – an eyelash.^[4]
• 1941 – have a lash, to make an attempt (Australia and New Zealand).^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A blow with a whip or other flexible object: The prisoner was sentenced to ten lashes.^{[13][3][15][4]}
2. The flexible part of a whip, especially the cord at its end.^{[13][3][15][4]}
3. the lash: punishment by flogging.^[3][4]
4. Something that hurts like a whip, such as harsh criticism: the lash of her tongue.^[13][15]
5. The forceful beating of wind, rain or waves.^[13][4]
6. An eyelash.^[13][4][5]
7. have a lash (Australia and New Zealand, informal): to make an attempt at something.^[13][4]

Verb

1. To strike with a whip or the like; to flog.^[13][3][4]
2. Of wind, rain or waves, to beat forcefully against something: Hail lashed the windows all night.^[3][4]
3. To move suddenly or violently; to dash.^[3][4]
4. lash out: to strike out violently, or to attack with words.^[3][4][11]
5. To criticize or rebuke harshly.^[4][15]

Word family

• lasher
• lashingly
• lashless
• whiplash
• backlash
• tongue-lash
• outlash
• eyelash

lash² to bind with a rope

Etymology

The verb meaning to bind is inherited from Middle English lasschen (“to lace”),^[3][10][7] probably borrowed from Old French lachier, a dialectal variant of lacier (“to lace, fasten”),^{[10][4][11][3][9]} the source of lace.^[11][7] The Anglo-Norman verb, recorded from the second quarter of the 12th century, already meant to bind, tie and lace on.^[16] The French verb goes back to Latin laqueus (“noose, snare”).^[17][13] The OED also allows a derivation from an English noun lash, a string or cord, and notes similar words in Dutch and German;^[4] Hoad, the Shorter Oxford and Dictionary.com prefer a Low German or Dutch source, comparing Middle Dutch lasche (“rag, patch, gusset”) and Dutch laschen (“to patch, sew together”).^[8][5][15]

Earliest recorded meaning

To lace a garment: about 1440, in the Promptorium Parvulorum.^[4][10]

Semantic evolution

The sense "to lace a garment" lasted until the early 17th century.^[4][5] The modern sense, to fasten with a rope or cord, is first recorded in 1624, in John Smith's Generall Historie of Virginia, and was originally nautical.^{[4][10][11][3]} Weekley notes that lace itself had earlier been used in this nautical sense.^[9] The noun lashing, a cord used for binding, followed in 1669.^[10]

Timeline

• c. 1440 – to lace a garment (obsolete by 1611).^[4][10]
• 1624 – to fasten with a rope or cord, chiefly at sea.^[4][10][3]
• 1669 – lashing, a cord used for binding.^[10]

Meanings

Verb

1. To tie or fasten with a rope, cord or chain: The crew lashed the barrels to the deck.^[3][4][5]
2. (obsolete, 1440–1611) To lace a garment.^[4][5]

Word family

• unlash
• lashing