þreskja

þreskja is an Old Norse verb meaning "to thresh." It refers to the process of separating grain from chaff and straw after harvesting. This was a crucial agricultural activity in medieval Scandinavia, as it made the grain usable for food and other purposes.

The process of threshing typically involved beating the harvested stalks of grain with flails. These flails were often made of wood, consisting of a handle with a shorter swinging piece attached by a hinge or leather thong. The grain stalks would be spread out on a hard surface, such as a threshing floor, and then beaten repeatedly to loosen the kernels.

After threshing, the mixture of grain, chaff, and straw would need to be winnowed. This involved tossing the mixture into the air, allowing the wind to carry away the lighter chaff and straw, leaving the heavier grain behind. This was a labor-intensive process, essential for obtaining clean grain for consumption or storage. The verb þreskja encapsulates this entire agricultural endeavor.