Definition of "swiple"

It anciently was truly a whip, and sometimes had two or more lashes: the modern flail consists of the handle or handstaff, which the labourer holds in his hand, and uses as a lever, to raise up and bring down the swiple, or part which strikes the corn, and beats out the chaff and grain from the straw.

1851, "Flail", entry in Cuthbert William Johnson, The Farmer's and Planter's Encyclopaedia of Rural Affairs, Lippincott, page 482

The flail consisted of two parts, a six foot wooden staff attached by a sheepskin thong to a four foot buailtean, swiple of wood, thick tarry cable, or dried tangle.

1978, Donald Macdonald, Lewis: A history of the island, page 76

The two hard captives bound together as one punishing creature, wielded by a Welshwoman and slave, are probably the handle and swiple of a threshing flail.

2011, Craig Williamson (editor & translator), A Feast of Creatures: Anglo-Saxon Riddle-Songs, University of Pennsylvania Press, page 195