swingle

1 of 2

noun

swin·​gle
ˈswiŋgəl
plural -s
1
: a wooden instrument like a large knife that is about two feet long, has one thin edge, and is used for beating and cleaning flax : scutcher
2
a
: the swiple of a flail
b
: a cudgel resembling a flail
3
: a lever resembling a spoke and used for turning the barrel in wire drawing or the roller of a plate press

swingle

2 of 2

transitive verb

"
swingled; swingled; swingling
-g(ə)liŋ
; swingles
: to clean by beating with a swingle : separate away the coarse and woody parts of : scutch

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English swingel, swengil, from Middle Dutch swinghel, swenghel instrument for beating flax, swipe; akin to Old English swingell whip, rod, blow, swingan to strike, beat

Transitive verb

Middle English swinglen, from Middle Dutch swinghelen, from swinghel swingle

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Dictionary Entries Near swingle

Cite this Entry

“Swingle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swingle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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