Swin·gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swingled p. pr. & vb. n. Swingling ]
1. To clean, as flax, by beating it with a swingle, so as to separate the coarse parts and the woody substance from it; to scutch.
2. To beat off the tops of without pulling up the roots; -- said of weeds. [Prov. Eng.]