fus·ti·gate \ˈfəstəˌgāt\transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Late Latin fustigatus, past participle of fustigare, from Latin fustis club, staff + -igare (akin to agere to drive, act, do) — more at beat, agent 1.: to beat with a stick : cudgel 2.: to criticize severely : castigate • fus·ti·ga·tion\ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈgāshən\noun-s