{ Thrash (?), Thresh (?) }, 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.
The wheat was reaped, thrashed, and winnowed by machines. H. Spencer.
2. To beat soundly, as with a stick or whip; to drub.