swingle

Noun

1. An implement used to separate the fibres of flax by beating them; a scutch.
2. The swinging part of a flail, especially that which is used on the grain in threshing; the swipple.

Verb

To beat or flog, especially for extracting the fibres from flax stalks; to scutch.

Verb

1. To dangle; to wave hanging.
2. (UK, dialectal, obsolete) To swing for pleasure.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈswɪŋ(ɡ)əl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: swingel

Inherited from Old English: swingel

Cognate with Middle Dutch: swingel

Cognate with Dutch: zwingel

Inherited from Middle English: swingelen

Cognate with Middle Dutch: swingelen

In summary

The noun is from Middle English swingel, from Old English swingel, swingelle (“whip, scourge”), equivalent to swing + -le. Related to Middle Dutch swingel, swengel, Dutch zwingel, zwengel. Doublet of swingel.
The verb is from Middle English swingelen, from the noun. Related to Middle Dutch swingelen, swengelen.

Synonyms

scutch

beat

shake

🫨

scutcher

maul

rammer

flail

varnish tree

tree of heaven

tree-of-heaven

copal tree

jerk

mallet

Translations

Götterbaum

Himmelsbaum

chinesischer Götterbaum

κοπανίζω λινάρι

κόπανος

aliante

aliante glanduleux

arbre aux pochettes d’argent

arbre du ciel

faux vernis du Japon

frêne puant

Ailanthus altissima

Alianthus glandulosa

zwengel

zwingel