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.

   “The pole of the Chinese flail is roughly 90 cm. long, the swingle about 30 cm. in length, joined to the pole by a wooden axle projecting at right-angles from the top of the swingle and passing through a loop at the top of the pole[…]”

   “(A flail swingle was a large wooden handle attached to a freeswinging stick, which was used in threshing grain.)”

   “Once cut into the correct size and shape, the handle of the flail, dumb in bendum 'unspeaking in bonds' (6b), is attached to the swingle or swipple, the swinging part of the flail, with a cord, rope, or chain tied through the hole or[…]”

verb

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

   “Now after you have swingled your Hempe and Flaxe ouer once, you shall take and shake up the refuse stuffe, which you beate from the same seuerally, and not only it, but the tops and knots, and halfe brak't buns which fall from the brake also, and drying them againe cause them to bee very well thresht with flayles, and then mixing them with th refuse which fell from the swingle tree, dresse them all well with threshing and shaking, till the buns be cleane driuen out of them;”

   “The instruments necessary to swingle flax are, a tressel, and a swingle.”

   “The first operation in dressing flax is to swingle or beat it, in order to detach it from the harle or skimps.”

   “Just what he said, they neither of them knew. For hearing is a sense made blunt by fright; But then their ears were flushed, and burned and tingled, As if they'd been by some sharp weapon swingled.”

   “She returned to her swingling and added reflectively : " That's what made me leave in the first place, to keep out of harm's way. […]".”

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

name

1. A surname.