swipple
.
Searchable Lemmata: swepelles (ME), swipple (MdE).
Alternate Forms: swe-pelles.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1(n.)
Accessory;
a broom or mop.(circa 1450 - post 1900)
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, from the stem of the verb 'sweep' + instrumental suffix -el(s). Most commonly used (from c. 1450 to the early 20th century) to refer to the part of a flail which threshes the grain. Possibly not the same word as Old English swæpels (q.v.), though they are both formed in a morphologically identical fashion and ultimately come from the same root. If this is the same word as swæpels, the sense underwent considerable perjoration from the Old English to Middle English periods.
WF: Derivation
Etym Cog:
References:
