SWINGLE (2)

Swin″gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swingled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swingling (?).] [[See Swingel.]] 1. 1. 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.
2. 2. To beat off the tops of without pulling up the roots; — said of weeds. Forby.