Definition of flays:
(v) :
To strip the skin off; to skin.
(v) :
To lash or whip.
(v) :
(transitive, UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To cause to fly; put to flight; drive off (by frightening).
(v) :
(transitive, UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To frighten; scare; terrify.
(v) :
(intransitive, UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To be fear-stricken.
(n) :
(UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) A fright; a scare.