I. ˈswiŋgəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: 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 — more at swing
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
II. transitive verb
( swingled ; swingled ; swingling -g(ə)liŋ ; swingles )
Etymology: Middle English swinglen, from Middle Dutch swinghelen, from swinghel swingle
: to clean by beating with a swingle : separate away the coarse and woody parts of : scutch