rouer

beat severely, thrash

verb roo-EH Rare

Origin: from roue 'wheel' (breaking on the wheel)

Usage Note

Rouer today almost exclusively appears in the phrase rouer de coups — to beat someone black and blue. Historically it referred to the judicial punishment of breaking on the wheel (la roue). Outside this fixed expression the verb is rarely used, so learners should treat rouer de coups as a unit.

Examples

"Il a été roué de coups par ses agresseurs."

Natural Translation

He was beaten black and blue by his attackers.

Literal Translation

He was thrashed with blows by his attackers.

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