What does "scutch" mean?

Scutch: To separate the woody fiber from (flax, hemp, etc.) by beating; to swingle.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To loosen and dress the fiber of (cotton or silk) by beating; to free (fibrous substances) from dust by beating and blowing. Scutching machine, a machine used to scutch cotton, silk, or flax; -- called also batting machine.
  2. 3.A wooden instrument used in scutching flax and hemp.
  3. 4.The woody fiber of flax; the refuse of scutched flax. "The smoke of the burning scutch." Cuthbert Bede.

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