A "flail" is a traditional agricultural tool used for threshing grain. It consists of a long handle with a shorter, swinging arm attached to it, allowing the user to strike the harvested crops to separate the grain from the chaff. This method was common before the advent of modern machinery and is still used in some regions for small-scale farming. In a different context, "flail" can also refer to a type of movement characterized by wild, uncontrolled swinging or thrashing. This term is often used to describe the actions of someone who is struggling or panicking, such as when a person is trying to swim but is not able to stay afloat.