thresh

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thresh separate the grain from (corn) by beating, etc. ME. threshen (XII), continuing metathetic alt. of OE. str. vb. þersċan = MLG., MDu. derschen (LG., Du. dorschen), OHG. dreskan (G. dreschen), ON. þreskja, Goth. þriskan, f. Gmc. *þersk- :- IE. *tersk-, repr. in Balto-Sl. by words denoting ‘crackle’, ‘crash’, ‘rattle’.
Hence thresher (-ER1) person or machine that threshes XIV; shark so named from the upper division of its tail with which it lashes an enemy XVII.

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