swingle

¹ American  

[swing-guhl] / ˈswɪŋ gəl /

noun

1. a swipple.

2. a wooden instrument shaped like a large knife, for beating flax or hemp and scraping from it the woody or coarse portions.

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verb (used with object)

swingled, swingling

1. to clean (flax or hemp) by beating and scraping with a swingle.

swingle ² American  

[swing-guhl] / ˈswɪŋ gəl /

noun

Slang.

1. a single person who is highly active socially and sexually; an unmarried person who swings.

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swingle British  

/ ˈswɪŋɡəl /

noun

1. a flat-bladed wooden instrument used for beating and scraping flax or hemp to remove coarse matter from it

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verb

1. (tr) to use a swingle on

Other Word Forms

• unswingled adjective

Etymology

Origin of swingle¹

1275–1325; Middle English swingel, Old English swingell rod (cognate with Middle Dutch swinghel ), equivalent to swing- ( swing ¹ ) + -el instrumental suffix ( -le )

Origin of swingle¹

1965–70, blend of swing ¹ (in the slang sense “to engage freely and often in sexual activity”) and single

Example Sentences

The official assured Swingle that Murphey could testify, according to an email from Swingle to Murphey’s attorney, which Murphey provided.

From Salon

He fell into “some lesser category,” Swingle wrote in the email.

From Salon

Still, Murphey refused to testify for Swingle.

From Salon

Swingle said Murphey’s refusal to cooperate was not the only factor influencing his decision to accept a plea deal in the Robinson case.

From Salon

The prosecutor handling the case, H. Morley Swingle, recognized how important Murphey was going to be and sought clarification about Murphey’s status from a top Gardner official.

From Salon