verb
thresh
Move or beat about violently.
The trapped fish threshes about in the shallow water.
Etymology
The older verb concerns beating, especially grain. Its broader movement sense retains the repeated forceful blows and agitation.
More examples
- He threshed his arms wildly as he struggled to stay afloat.
- The injured snake lies threshing in the dust.
- She wakes when her restless child begins to thresh in bed.
Forms
thresh · threshes · threshed · threshing