GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Swingle (?), v. i. [Freq. of swing.]
   1. To dangle; to wave hanging. [Obs.]  Johnson.
   
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   2. To swing for pleasure. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
   
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2.       
   Swingle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swingled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swingling (?).] [See Swingel.]
   1. To clean, as flax, by beating it with a swingle, so as to separate the coarse parts and the woody substance from it; to scutch.
   
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   2. To beat off the tops of without pulling up the roots; -- said of weeds. [Prov. Eng.]  Forby.
   
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3.       
   Swingle, n. A wooden instrument like a large knife, about two feet long, with one thin edge, used for beating and cleaning flax; a scutcher; -- called also swingling knife, swingling staff, and swingling wand.
   
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