Moving arms or legs wildly and without control, or struggling helplessly. Can also refer to beating grain with a flail.
From Old English fleġel, from Latin flagellum meaning 'whip' or 'scourge.' Originally described the agricultural tool used to thresh grain, then extended to any wild, uncontrolled beating motion.
The flail was one of humanity's most important agricultural tools for thousands of years, separating grain from chaff through rhythmic beating. Today's metaphorical use perfectly captures that same wild, repetitive motion when someone is struggling or panicking.
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