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.
To beat soundly, as with a stick or whip; to drub.
To practice thrashing grain or the like; to perform the business of beating grain from straw; as, a man who thrashes well.
Hence, to labor; to toil; also, to move violently. I rather would be Mævius, thrash for rhymes, Like his, the scorn and scandal of the times. Dryden.
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