" Phillips.
Swyngylle, 216, "Swingle-Staff, a Stick to beat Flax with," Phil.; AS.
_swingele_, a whip, lash. "To _swingle_, to beat; a Term among
Flax-dressers." Phillips. Though Randle Holme, Bk. III., ch. viii.
No. xxxiii., gives the _Swingle-Tree_ of a Coach-Pole (these are
made of wood, and are fastened by Iron hooks, stables (_sic_) chains
and pinns to the Coach-pole, to the which Horses are fastened by
their Harnish when there is more then two to draw the Coach), yet at
Chap, vi., ยง iv., p. 285, col. 1, he says, "He beareth Sable, a
_Swingle_ Hand erected, Surmounting of a _Swingle_ Foot, Or. This is
a Wooden Instrument made like a Fauchion, with an hole cut in the
top of it, to hold it by: It is used for the clearing of Hemp and
Flax from the large broken Stalks or *Shoves, by the help of the
said _Swingle_ Foot, which it is hung upon, which said Stalks being
first broken, bruised, and cut into shivers by a Brake.
S. 3, such erected in Fesse O. born by _Flaxlowe_.
S. 3, such in Pale A., born by _Swingler_."
(A drawing is given by Holme, No. 4, on the plate opposite p. 285.)
"_Swingowing_ is the beating off the bruised inward stalk of the Hemp
or Flax, from the outward pill, which as (_sic_) the Hemp or Flax,
p. 106, col. 2.
_Spinning_ is to twist the Flax hairs into Yarn or Thrid. _Reeling_
is to wind the Yarn of the Wheel Spool on a Reel," p.
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