thresh
UK: θreʃ | US: θreʃ
Definition
vt. to separate grain from (a cereal plant) by beating or trampling
vt. to beat or strike repeatedly
vi. (archaic) to thrash or flail violently
Structure
thresh <to beat, trample>
Etymology
The word "thresh" originates from Old English þerscan, meaning "to trample or beat." It is closely related to the word "thrash," both sharing the Proto-Germanic root þreskaną, which conveyed the action of beating or stamping. Historically, "thresh" specifically referred to the agricultural process of separating grain from husks by trampling or beating, while "thrash" evolved to describe violent striking in a broader sense. The word's persistence in English reflects its deep roots in agrarian life.
Examples
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