The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Lambaste \Lam*baste"\, v. t. [Lam + baste to beat.]
   To beat severely; specifically, to beat with a cane. [Low]
   --Nares.

   Syn: cane, flog, lambaste.
        [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

   2. to scold, reprimand, or berate harshly.

   Syn: rebuke, rag, reproof, reprimand, jaw, dress down, scold,
        chide, berate, bawl out, jaw at, remonstrate with, chew
        out, chew up, have words with, lambast.
        [WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

lambaste
    v 1: beat with a cane [syn: cane, flog, lambaste,
         lambast]
    2: censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child
       for entering a stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the Prime
       Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing
       cold soup" [syn: call on the carpet, take to task,
       rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture,
       reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold,
       chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out,
       chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast]