n. An instrument to thrash with; a flail. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Thrash, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thrashing floor,
Threshing-floor, or
Threshing floor, a floor or area on which grain is beaten out. --
Thrashing machine, a machine for separating grain from the straw. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Thrashed p. pr. & vb. n. Thrashing. ] [ OE. þreschen, þreshen, to beat, AS. þerscan, þrescan; akin to D. dorschen, OD. derschen, G. dreschen, OHG. dreskan, Icel. þreskja, Sw. tröska, Dan. tærske, Goth. þriskan, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wheat was reaped, thrashed, and winnowed by machines. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To beat soundly, as with a stick or whip; to drub. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, to labor; to toil; also, to move violently. [ 1913 Webster ]

I rather would be Maevius, thrash for rhymes,
Like his, the scorn and scandal of the times. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]