swingle

Meanings

Verb

• To beat or flog, especially for extracting the fibres from flax stalks; to scutch.
• To dangle; to wave hanging.
• To swing for pleasure.

Noun

• An implement used to separate the fibres of flax by beating them; a scutch.

Origin

• From Middle English swingelen, from the noun (see below). Related to Middle Dutch swingelen, swengelen.
• From Middle English swingel, from Old English swingel, swingelle, equivalent to swing + -le. Related to Middle Dutch swingel, swengel, Dutch zwingel, zwengel. swingel.
• From swing + -le.