Lash Means a Whip Stroke and an Eyelash
A lash is a stroke with a whip. The same word names the hairs protecting the eye.
A lash is a stroke with a whip, the flexible part of a whip itself, and an eyelash. Eyelashes are not decorative: they trigger a blink reflex on contact and, more usefully, divert airflow across the eye surface so less dust reaches it and tears evaporate more slowly. Wind tunnel studies found the effect is optimised when lashes are about a third of the eye's width, a proportion that holds across many mammals. To *lash* also means to tie firmly, a separate nautical word.
- A whip stroke. *Twenty lashes.*
- An eyelash. *Long lashes.*
- To tie firmly. *Lash it down.*
- Lash out — attack suddenly. *Lashed out.*
- Middle English — of uncertain origin. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | lash | A lash. |
| Plural | lashes | Lashes. |
| Verb | lash | Lashing. |
| Compound | eyelash | An eyelash. |
| Compound | lashing | Lashings. |
- Rain lashed the windows.Force.
- She has long lashes.Eyes.
- Lash the cargo down.Tying.
What eyelashes actually do
- They trigger a blink when touched
- They divert airflow across the eye surface
- That reduces dust reaching the eye
- It also slows tear evaporation
- The effect is best at about a third of the eye's width
Middle English, of uncertain origin, probably imitative. The tying sense is a separate word.
What are eyelashes for?
They trigger a protective blink and divert airflow across the eye, reducing dust and slowing tear evaporation.
Is lashing cargo the same word?
No. That comes from a separate root meaning to bind, and is chiefly a nautical term.