swingle noun¹. ['swɪŋg(ǝ)l] ME.
[Middle Dutch swinghel from base of SWING verb + -LE¹.]
1. A wooden instrument for beating and scraping flax or hemp so as to remove any woody or coarse parts. ME.

2. The swipple of a flail. local. LME.
b. Chiefly Hist. A weapon resembling a flail. E19.

3. A crank. dial. L17.

Comb.:
swingle-bar = swingletree (b) below; swingle-hand, swingle-staff = sense 1 above; swingletree (a) (obsolete exc. dial.) a board used in dressing flax or hemp with a swingle; (b) a crossbar pivoted at the middle, to which the traces are fastened in a cart, plough, etc.; (c) dial. = sense 2 above.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

swingle noun². ['swɪŋg(ǝ)l] N. Amer. slang. M20.
[Blend of SWINGING adjective and SINGLE noun.]
A lively socially active single person, spec. one in search of a sexual partner.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

swingle verb¹ trans. & intrans. ['swɪŋ(ǝ)l] ME.
[from SWINGLE noun¹.]
Beat and scrape (flax or hemp) with a swingle.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

swingle verb². ['swɪŋ(ǝ)l] LME.
[Frequentative of SWING verb: see -LE³.]
1. verb trans. Swing or flourish about. Only in LME.

2. verb intrans. Swing; hang. dial. M18.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲