thresh

Threshing is the agricultural process of loosening edible grains from their husks and straw after harvest. It can be done by beating the sheaf against a surface, rubbing, or using a flail, to separate grain from chaff. A threshing floor is a hard, smooth surface where grain is spread and beaten. Winnowing follows, using wind or air to blow away the lighter chaff and leave the cleaned grain.

Since the Industrial Revolution, threshing machines and, later, combine harvesters automated the process. A threshing machine typically uses beating, reinforced screens, and suction or air flow to separate grain from straw, collecting the grain while discarding chaff and straw into separate streams. Modern harvesters perform threshing as part of the harvesting operation, integrated with cutting and cleaning functions.

In popular culture, Thresh is the name of a fictional character in the video game League of Legends. Introduced in 2013, Thresh is portrayed as a vengeful undead jailer of souls, wielding a chain and lantern, and is considered a prominent support champion in the game.

The verb thresh is commonly used in agricultural contexts and in metaphorical phrases to describe separating or processing elements from a mixture. The related noun threshing denotes the act itself, while threshers and threshing machines refer to equipment used historically and today in farming.