swingle

noun

swin·gle | \ ˈswiŋgəl\

plural -s

Definition of swingle

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a : 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

transitive verb

\ "\

swingled; swingled; swingling\ -g(ə)liŋ \; swingles

Definition of swingle (Entry 2 of 2)

: to clean by beating with a swingle : separate away the coarse and woody parts of : scutch

History and Etymology for swingle

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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