Definition of "swingle" [swin•gle]

• To beat or flog, especially for extracting the fibres from flax stalks; to scutch (verb)
• An implement used to separate the fibres of flax by beating them; a scutch (noun)

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• "There was a tow which came out when it was swingled, called swingle tow."
• "The strikes were swingled again, and from the refuse called swingle-tree hurds, coarse bagging could be spun and woven."
• "Yes, that's the first definition in my trusty Oxford: to scutch, swingle flax, hemp, etc."