Word Study
Swingle
CIDE DICTIONARY
Swingle, v. i. [Freq. of swing.].
- To dangle; to wave hanging. Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- To swing for pleasure. [1913 Webster]
Swingle, v. t. [See Swingel.].
- To clean, as flax, by beating it with a swingle, so as to separate the coarse parts and the woody substance from it; to scutch. [1913 Webster]
- To beat off the tops of without pulling up the roots; -- said of weeds. Forby. [1913 Webster]
Swingle, n.
A wooden instrument like a large knife, about two feet long, with one thin edge, used for beating and cleaning flax; a scutcher; -- called also swingling knife , swingling staff , and swingling wand . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Swingle, n. & v.
--n.
1 a wooden instrument for beating flax and removing the woody parts from it.
2 the swinging part of a flail.
--v.tr. clean (flax) with a swingle.
--n.
1 a wooden instrument for beating flax and removing the woody parts from it.
2 the swinging part of a flail.
--v.tr. clean (flax) with a swingle.
Etymology
ME f. MDu. swinghel (as SWING, -LE(1))
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