Now dial. Forms: 1 þerscel, þyrscel; 7–9 threshal, -all, -el, (7 thressal, threshold, 9 -le), 9. dial. thrashel, drashel, etc.: see Eng. Dial. Dict. [OE. þerscel, f. þersc-an, THRASH, THRESH v. + -EL1; cf. OHG. driscil, MHG., G. drischel.] A flail.
a. 1000. Ags. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 192/3. Bainus, þerscel.
c. 1000. Eifric’s Voc. Ibid., 107/2, 141/16. Tritorium, þerscel.
1674. Flavel, Husb. Spir., I. xix. 159. As they have threshals of different sizes, so they bestow on some grain more, on other fewer, strokes. Ibid., 161. He little regards whether it be bruised and battered to pieces by the threshold or no.
1685. R. Dunning, Plain & Easie Method, 5. By his Threshall, Mattock, and the like, he now gains his meat and Drink.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 333/1. A Threshall or Flail [to Thrash or Thresh the Corn].
1813. T. Davis, Agric. Wilts. Gloss., s.v., A pair of threshles or drashols, or flyals, a flail.
1881. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Thrashal, Thrashat,… a flail.
1882. Jago, Cornw. Gloss., Drashel, a fail.
† b. A mediæval weapon: see quot., and cf. FLAIL sb.2 and MORGENSTERN. Obs.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xvi. (Roxb.), 88/1. A round Iron or Lead Ball sett on all sides with spike nayles, or sharp pointed Irons, hung in a chaine, to the end of a staffe or cudgell…. Some terme it a slinged Galthrope, others Waring thressal.
