flay

Meanings

• Verb

  To skin an animal, especially by cutting the hide off with a sharp instrument.

  - "The butcher flayed the pig before selling the meat."
  - "The hunter flayed the deer to prepare the pelt for sale."

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Pronunciation

1. /fleɪ/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61415982"
2. /fleɪ/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61415982"

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Synonyms

fleece , flense , skin

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with flay
play , stray , pray

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Variants

List of all variants of flay that leads to same result
flay , flayed , flaying , flays

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originally meant 'to strip off' or 'to peel'. Derived from Old English 'flēgan', meaning 'to fly', possibly because the skin was removed in one piece, like a wing.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The verb 'flay' is also used in the context of criticism, as in 'flaying a criticism'.

2. In the Harry Potter series, a character named Gilderoy Lockhart is described as having 'flayed' his memories to sell them as his own.

3. The term 'flayed' is sometimes used metaphorically to describe the emotional impact of a harsh or revealing criticism.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Skinning: The process of removing the skin from an animal, often used for leather production or for preparing the meat.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'flay' is often used metaphorically to describe the emotional stripping or exposure of someone's vulnerabilities. For example, in George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', the pigs are described as having been 'flayed' by the other animals when their true nature is revealed.

How to Memorize "flay"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize the act of removing an animal's hide, imagining the sharp knife slicing through the skin.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'flay' with the image of a butcher or hunter preparing an animal for consumption or leather production.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the mnemonic 'F-L-A-Y' to remember the meaning: 'F' for 'Fly', 'L' for 'Lay' the skin off, 'A' for 'Animal', and 'Y' for 'Yielding' the pelt or meat.

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