swipple
(ˈswɪp(ə)l)
Also 5 swepelles, swepyl, swipylle, 7 sweaple, 7–9 swiple, 9 Sc. swoople, swupple. See also supple n.1
[prob. orig. f. swēp-, sweep v. or swip-, swip v. + instrumental suffix -els. Cf. LG. swepelbessen broom with which chaff is swept up.]
† 1. A besom, mop. Obs.
| 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 616/12 Tersorium, a swepelles (a malkyn). |
2. The part of a flail that strikes the grain in thrashing.
| a 1450 Tourn. Tottenham 167 Of sum were the hedys brokyn..Wyth swyppyng of swepyls [v.r. swipylles]. 1609 Shuttleworths' Acc. (Chetham Soc.) 184 For hollyn swipples, vij{supd}. 1619 Ibid. 239 Twelve swipples. 1688 Holme Armoury iii. 333/1 The Swiple [of a Flail or Threshal is] that part as striketh out the Corn. 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. s.v. Barnman's-jig, The swoople on the end of the hand-staff. 1902 A. Thomson Lauder & Lauderdale xxiii. 261 An early working model of the threshing mill consisted of a series of flails or swiples..dangerous to approach. 1907 M. C. F. Morris Nunburnholme 249 The sound of the swipple on the barn floor was heard every working day all through the winter. |
† 3. app. A swivel. Obs.
| 1691 Lond. Gaz. No. 2632/4 A Gold Japanned Watch, with a Gold Chain, and 3 Sweaples. |