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to scutch

to scutch

9.9
To beat plant stems to remove woody parts and free fibers for spinning
  • verb
  • Archaic
translation icon : escuchar
  • Workers spent the afternoon scutching flax to prepare it for spinning into linen.

Examples

  • After harvesting, the next step is to scutch the hemp to separate the fibers from the stalks.

  • Farmers scutch flax to prepare it for spinning.

  • Traditional methods of scutching cotton are still used in some rural communities.

  • The artisans scutched the fibers carefully.

  • Workers spent the afternoon scutching flax to prepare it for spinning into linen.

  • After harvesting, the next step is to scutch the hemp to separate the fibers from the stalks.

  • Farmers scutch flax to remove the woody parts before spinning it into thread.

Synonyms

to hatchel
vsto scutch
  • Archaic
9.9

To comb flax or hemp to separate the long fibers for spinning

uses beating and scraping to remove woody parts before spinning
to hackle
vsto scutch
  • Specialized
9.5

To comb plant fibers like flax or hemp to make them straight and clean

relies on beating and scraping to remove woody impurities instead

Compounds

A grass that spreads quickly and forms a thick cover for lawns or pastures

How Thorough

to hackle
  • Specialized
9.5
to scutch
  • Archaic
9.9
to comb
77 1.0
to shake out
10 2.9

Surface Forms

scutch infinitive
scutched past
scutched past participle
scutching present participle
scutches third person singular

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb scutch is to think of old words for 'to strike' or 'to scrape', because to scutch is to beat or scrape fibers to remove the woody parts. So, the origin matches the action: scutching is literally 'beating away' what you do not want.