FLAIL, an instrument for threshing corn. It con-
sists of the following parts. 1. The hand-staff, or piece held in the thresher's hand. 2. The swible, or that part which strikes out the corn. 3. The caplins, or strong double leathers, made fast to the tops of the hand-staff and swible. 4. The middle-band, being the leather thong, or fish skin, that ties the caplins together.