Threshold

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  1. words1:

    from Peter Christopher Franck:

    The Danish word for “threshold” is “tærskel” (“æ” being a particular Norw. & Dan. diphthong consisting of “a” & “e”). The last part of this word may be derived from “shield”, albeit uncertain. See ODS (Dic. of the Dan. Lang.): http://ordnet.dk/ods/opslag?id=580775

  2. bigjohn756:

    In modern China they thresh rice by placing it in the roadway in the morning to let the traffic run over it. In the evening they are out in the street sweeping up and bagging the grains. At least they were doing that near Wuhan ten years ago when I was there.

  3. Andrew:

    In modern China 2015 they still do it in small villages.

  4. Andy Mackey:

    When corn was Threshed by manually beating it on the threshing floor they needed a light breeze to carry away the light husks. Modern combines use blown air to separate wheat from the chaff (husks). A threshold will on a day of light breezes ( the day they would pick for threshing) stop a lot of dust and thresh blowing into houses. I presume the threshing area chosen would be downwind of houses and workers. Notice the dust cloud next time you see a cereal crop being harvested.

  5. Ruth Steeves:

    Hi Margaret and thanks for thinking of me with this ‘bit’ of history. Love it and welcome any further info you care to send me!! I hope you’re enjoying this beautiful time of year..fresh green grass, trees and I don’t think anyone will complain about the warmer temperatures….Lovingly, in Him Ruth

  6. admin:

    Hi, I think you meant to email your comment to “Margaret” but replied as a post to the website instead.

  7. Peter Firrh:

    With all respect, I think even you are not quite right. After the stalks of wheat had been picked (reaped), they had to be threshed: thrashed against the (internal, therefore dry) walls of a building. The kernels would fall on the floor, and what remained in one’s hand was thrown out. Of course the kernels would build up during the day, so people would put a piece of timber across doorways – a Threshold

  8. Axel Gudmundsson:

    In modern-day Icelandic a threshold is called “þröskuldur”, and apparently this word developed from the word “þrepskjöldur”, where “þrep” means a tread (as in stairs), and “skjöldur” means shield–*treadshield*.