lash
UK: læʃ | US: læʃ
n. 1. The flexible part of a whip; a swift stroke or blow with a whip or similar object.
n. 2. An eyelash.
vt. 1. To strike or beat with a whip or similar object.
vt. 2. To fasten or bind tightly with a rope or cord.
The word "lash" originates from Old English læscan, meaning "to strike or whip." It has retained its core meaning related to striking or binding over time. The noun form referring to an eyelash emerged later, likely due to the resemblance of eyelashes to the thin, flexible strands of a whip.
The cowboy gave the horse a sharp lash to make it run faster.
She felt a lash of rain against her face during the storm.
He used a rope to lash the logs together securely.
Her long lashes fluttered as she blinked.
The critic’s words were as harsh as a lash.