<P> The term flail refers to two different weapons: a long, two - handed infantry weapon with a cylindrical head, and a shorter weapon with a round metal striking head . The defining characteristic of both is that they involve a separate striking head attached to a handle by a flexible rope, strap, or chain . The chief tactical virtue of the flail was its capacity to strike around a defender's shield or parry . Its chief liability was a lack of precision and the difficulty of using it in close combat, or closely ranked formations . </P> <P> The longer cylindrical - headed flail is a hand weapon derived from the agricultural tool of the same name, commonly used in threshing . It was primarily considered a peasant's weapon, and while not common, they were deployed in Germany and Central Europe in the later Late Middle Ages . The smaller, more spherical - headed flail appears to be even less common; it appears occasionally in artwork from the 15th century onward, but many historians have expressed doubts that it ever saw use as an actual military weapon . </P>

What is the weapon with the ball and chain