swipple

or swi·ple

[ swip-uhl ]

noun

1. the freely swinging part of a flail, which falls upon the grain in threshing; swingle.

swipple

/ ˈswɪpəl /

noun

1. the part of a flail that strikes the grain

Word History and Origins

Origin of swipple¹

1400–50; late Middle English swipyl, variant of swepyl, equivalent to swep ( en ) to sweep ¹ + -yl instrumental suffix ( -le )

Word History and Origins

Origin of swipple¹

C15 swipyl, variant of swepyl, from swep ( en ) to sweep + -yl, suffix denoting an instrument

Example Sentences

It consists of a short thick club called a “swingle” or “swipple” attached by a rope or leather thong to a wooden handle in such a manner as to enable it to swing freely.

From Project Gutenberg

He paused, also, at this and that farm-house, evidently having a pleasure in the sight of good fat cattle, and in the flocks of poultry—fowls, ducks, geese, and turkeys, busy about the barn-door, where the sound of the flail, or the swipple, as they there term it, was already heard busily knocking out the corn of the last bountiful harvest.

From Project Gutenberg