Medieval Weapon – The flail

The term "flail" is derived from the Latin word "flagellum" but its meaning translates as a whip or scourge as from the Vulgate. Flail in German is "flegel", Dutch it is "vlegel," and in French it is "fleu"–all terms refer to a hand used tool meant to thresh corn. The most common use of the term flail, however, is in reference to a battle weapon. The most common use of the term flail, however, is in reference to a battle weapon. The weapon originated from an early fighting technique that used a club. In Northern Europe, a flail was a threshing tool that was in widespread use and remained the primary way to thresh grain until 1860. In Japan, the tool had been around since antiquity and was most likely used along with a stripper–a large comb-like instrument with upright hard wood teeth. Once straw had been harvested, it was combed through starting at the bottom of the stalks so the tops were removed, the tops would later be threshed by a flail on the threshing floor.

A flail is composed of a freely swinging "swipple" or "swingle" (which is a short thick wooden club) that is attached by a leather thong or rope to wood handle. In the Middle Ages, the flail was used as a weapon by the military. It was most often wielded by foot soldiers and knights. The flail is a weapon that you can use to strike or bash your opponent. The militaristic flail looks quite similar to the threshing tool except that it is often more robust, durable, and has iron spikes. Instead of a rope, the iron or wood handle is connected to a freely swinging spike covered iron ball by a heavy duty chain. This type of flail is more properly known as the "holy water sprinkler" or "morning star." Using momentum and extreme force, a flail can negate the defensive properties of a shield and inflict significant injuries to an armored knight. Only those who were well off and well trained could wield this expensive weapon that has a very high learning curve. More often than naught, a soldier who wielded a flail was a weaponry expert.