Swing'gle1, v. i.
(swĭng'gl), v. i. [From swing.] [Obs.]
- To dangle; to wave hanging. Johnson.
- To swing for pleasure.
3 entries under this word
Swingle
Swin'gle2, v. t.
(swing'gl), v. t. [From swing.] [A-S. swingan, D. zwengelen, zwengen, zw ingen; A-S. swinglung, a whipping, from swinglan, swingelian, to whip.]
- To clean, as flax, by beating it with a swingle, so as to separate the coarse parts and the woody substance from it.
- To cut off the tops of, without pulling up the roots;—said of weeds. Forby.
- (Wire-making.) (a.) A wooden spoke fixed to the barrel that draws the wire. (b.) A crank.
Swĭng'gle3, n.
n. [See SWINGLE, v. t.] A wooden instrument like a large knife, about two feet long, with one thin edge, used for cleaning flax;—called also swingling-knife, swingling-staff, and swingling-wand.