Flay \Flay\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flayed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Flaying}.] [OE. flean, flan, AS. fle['a]n; akin to D. vlaen, Icel. fl[=a], Sw. fl[*a], Dan. flaae, cf. Lith. ples? to tear, plyszti, v.i., to burst tear; perh. akin to E. flag to flat stone, flaw.] To skin; to strip off the skin or surface of; as, to flay an ox; to flay the green earth. With her nails She 'll flay thy wolfish visage. --Shak.