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. [1913 Webster]
To beat off the tops of without pulling up the roots; -- said of weeds. Forby. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
swingle, n. & v.
--n.
1 a wooden instrument for beating flax and removing the woody parts from it.
2 the swinging part of a flail.
--v.tr. clean (flax) with a swingle.