Definition of "thresh"

(transitive, agriculture) To separate the grain from the straw or husks (chaff) by mechanical beating, with a flail or machinery, or by driving animals over them.  examples

(transitive, literary) To beat soundly, usually with some tool such as a stick or whip; to drub.  examples

(intransitive, literary) To violently toss the limbs about.  quotations  examples