Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FLAY, v.t. [Sax. flean; Dan. flaaer; Sw. flä; G. flöhen; Gr. φλοιω, φλοιζω, whence φλοιος, bark, rind; probably a contracted word.]

1. To skin; to strip off the skin of an animal; as, to flay an ox.
2. To take off the skin or surface of any thing. [Not used.] Swift.