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Smack vs Flail - What's the difference?

smack | flail | Related terms |

Smack is a related term of flail.


As nouns the difference between smack and flail

is that smack is a distinct flavor or smack can be a small sailing vessel, commonly rigged as a sloop, used chiefly in the coasting and fishing trade and often called a or smack can be a sharp blow; a slap see also: spank while flail is a tool used for threshing, consisting of a long handle with a shorter stick attached with a short piece of chain, thong or similar material.

As verbs the difference between smack and flail

is that smack is to indicate or suggest something or smack can be to slap someone, or to make a smacking sound while flail is to beat using a flail or similar implement.

As an adverb smack

is as if with a smack or slap.

smack

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) smac, smak, smacke, from (etyl) . More at smake, smatch.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A distinct flavor.
  • A slight trace of something; a smattering.
  • * 1883 ,
  • He was not sailorly, and yet he had a smack of the sea about him too.
  • (slang) Heroin.
  • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To indicate or suggest something.
  • Her reckless behavior smacks of pride.
  • * Shakespeare
  • All sects, all ages, smack of this vice.
  • To have a particular taste.
  • Derived terms
    * smack of

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) smack (Low German .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small sailing vessel, commonly rigged as a sloop, used chiefly in the coasting and fishing trade and often called a .
  • Etymology 3

    From or akin to (etyl) ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sharp blow; a slap. See also: spank.
  • A loud kiss.
  • * Shakespeare
  • a clamorous smack
  • A quick, sharp noise, as of the lips when suddenly separated, or of a whip.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To slap someone, or to make a smacking sound.
  • * (Benjamin Disraeli)
  • A horse neighed, and a whip smacked , there was a whistle, and the sound of a cart wheel.
  • (New Zealand) To strike a child (usually on the buttocks) as a form of discipline. (US spank)
  • To wetly separate the lips, making a noise, after tasting something or in expectation of a treat.
  • * 1763 , Robert Lloyd, “A Familiar Epistle” in St. James Magazine :
  • But when, obedient to the mode / Of panegyric, courtly ode / The bard bestrides, his annual hack, / In vain I taste, and sip and smack , / I find no flavour of the Sack.
  • To kiss with a close compression of the lips, so as to make a sound when they separate.
  • Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • As if with a smack or slap
  • Right smack bang in the middle.
    Derived terms
    * smack-dab

    Anagrams

    * ----

    flail

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A tool used for threshing, consisting of a long handle with a shorter stick attached with a short piece of chain, thong or similar material.
  • A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.
  • Quotations
    * 1631 — *: When in one night, ere glimpse of morn,
    His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn
    That ten day-labourers could not end; * 1816 — *: Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
    Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail * 1842 — *: On him alone the curse of Cain
    Fell, like a flail on the garnered grain,
    And struck him to the earth! * 1879 — , ch V *: If the farmer must use the spade because he has not capital enough for a plough, the sickle instead of the reaping machine, the flail instead of the thresher...

    Coordinate terms

    *(weapon) nunchaku

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To beat using a flail or similar implement.
  • To wave or swing vigorously
  • *
  • * 1937 , ,
  • He stopped in his tracks – then, flailing his arms wildly in the air, began to stagger backwards.
  • To thresh.
  • To move like a flail.
  • He was flailing wildly, but didn't land a blow.

    Synonyms

    * thrash

    See also

    * (wikipedia "flail") *