flay

flay [ fley ]
	[ transitive verb ]
	MEANING :
	1. to whip or lash 2. to take the skin off in strips 3. to fleece or strip of money or goods 4. to scold or criticize with scathing severity
	USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
	In the old days punishment was so severe that people who stole food were flayed in public.
	USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
	This populism ignores the fact that few householders, however protective of their possessions, want a license to flay, torture, spit-roast or feed to the cats any malefactor with designs on their flat-screen televisions.