THRESHING

threshing

(noun) the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw; “they used to do the threshing by hand but now there are machines to do it”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

threshing

present participle of thresh

Noun

threshing (plural threshings)

The process by which something is threshed.

Synonyms

• thrashing (colloquial)

Source: Wiktionary

THRESH

Thrash, Thresh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Thrashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Thrashing.] Etym: [OE. , , to beat, AS. , ; akin to D. dorschen, OD. derschen, G. dreschen, OHG. dreskan, Icel. , Sw. tröska, Dan. tærske, Goth. , Lith. traszketi to rattle, Russ. treskate to burst, crackle, tresk' a crash, OSlav. troska a stroke of lighting. Cf. Thresh.]

1. To beat out grain from, as straw or husks; to beat the straw or husk of (grain) with a flail; to beat off, as the kernels of grain; as, to thrash wheat, rye, or oats; to thrash over the old straw. The wheat was reaped, thrashed, and winnowed by machines. H. Spencer.

2. To beat soundly, as with a stick or whip; to drub.

Thrash, Thresh, v. t.

1. To practice thrashing grain or the like; to perform the business of beating grain from straw; as, a man who thrashes well.

2. Hence, to labor; to toil; also, to move violently. I rather would be Mævius, thrash for rhymes, Like his, the scorn and scandal of the times. Dryden.

Thresh, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Threshed; p. pr. & vb. n. Threshing.]

Definition: Same as Thrash. He would thresh, and thereto dike and delve. Chaucer.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition