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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