an old custom, still kept in some parts of Britain, of marking the boundaries of a church parish (1) by marching round them and hitting the ground, or certain boundary marks, with long sticks. The ceremony is performed once a year, usually on Ascension Day or before Easter .
BEATING THE BOUNDS
Meaning of BEATING THE BOUNDS in English
Oxford guide to British and American culture English vocabulary. Руководство по британской и американской культуре, Оксфордский английский словарь. 2005