threshel Now dial.
(ˈθrɛʃ(ə)l)
Forms: 1 þerscel, þyrscel; 7–9 threshal, -all, -el, (7 thressal, threshold, 9 -le), 9 dial. thrashel, drashel, etc.: see Eng. Dial. Dict.
[OE. þerscel, f. þersc-an, thrash, thresh v. + -el1; cf. OHG. driscil, MHG., G. drischel.]
A flail.
| a 1000 Ags. Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 192/3 Bainus, þerscel. c 1000 ælfric's Voc. ibid. 107/2, 141/16 Tritorium, þerscel. 1674 J. Flavel Husb. Spir. i. xix. 159 As they have threshals of different sizes, so they bestow on some grain more, on other fewer, strokes. Ibid. 161 He little regards whether it be bruised and battered to pieces by the threshold or no. 1685 R. Dunning Plain & Easie Method 5 By his Threshall, Mattock, and the like, he now gains his Meat and Drink. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 333/1 A Threshall or Flail [to Thrash or Thresh the Corn]. 1813 T. Davis Agric. Wilts. Gloss. s.v., A pair of threshles or drashols, or flyals, a flail. 1881 G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk., Thrashal, Thrashat,..a flail. 1882 Jago Cornw. Gloss., Drashel, a flail. |
† b. A mediæval weapon: see quot., and cf. flail n.2 and morgenstern. Obs.
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. xvi. (Roxb.) 88/1 A round Iron or Lead Ball sett on all sides with spike nayles, or sharp pointed Irons, hung in a chaine, to the end of a staffe or cudgell... Some terme it a slinged Galthrope, others Waring thressal. |