threshing

Verb

thresh (third-person singular simple present threshes, present participle threshing, simple past and past participle threshed)

1. (transitive) To separate the grain from the straw or husks (chaff) by mechanical beating, with a flail or machinery, or by driving animals over them.
   1. (intransitive, transitive) To be so separated, or to be capable of being so separated.
2. (literary, transitive) To beat soundly, usually with some tool such as a stick or whip; to drub.
3. (intransitive, literary) To violently toss the limbs about.
   • The jay fell all lopsidedly and threshing, as though it were having a fit. The ground killed it.1967, J. A. Baker, The Peregrine, page 41
4. (literary, transitive, usually) To belabor; to go over repeatedly, especially an argument.
5. To drive through adverse conditions (wind, waves).