Thresher

Thresher
Recorded as Thrasher and Thresher, this is an English surname of great antiquity. It is occupational and originates from the Olde English word 'pryscere' meaning to beat or thrash, and used in a transferred sense to describe the action of removing the corn from the stalk. In medieval times and earlier, this was one of the most important of all agricultural occupations. It was said that a good thresher would save a crop which might otherwise be a failure, and hence could bring starvation to the local community. Occupational surnames were amongst the earliest to be created. Hower they did not usually become hereditary unless a son followed the father into the same line of business. This also helps to explain why the patronymic forms of surnames are sometimes more popular than the original spelliing, although not with this name. Indeed there does not seem to be a surviving patronymic. The earliest known recording is probably that of Robert le Thressher of Somerset. This was in the register known as 'Kirby's Quest' for the year 1273, and Richardus Thescher in the Poll Tax Rolls of Yorks in 1379.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Thresher — may refer to:*Threshing machine (or thresher), a device that first separates the head of a stalk of grain from the straw, and then further separates the kernel from the rest of the head *Thresher shark, a type of shark with a distinctly scythe… …   Wikipedia

  • Thresher — ist: ein Codename eines Notebooks, siehe Apple PowerBook G4 12 Zoll ein U Boot der US Marine, siehe USS Thresher (SSN 593) und die danach benannte Thresher Klasse Siehe auch: Thrasher (Begriffsklärung) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • thresher — late 14c., agent noun from THRESH (Cf. thresh). The thresher shark (c.1600) so called for its long upper tail shape, which resembles a threshing tool …   Etymology dictionary

  • Thresher — Thresh er, n. Same as {Thrasher}. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thresher — ► NOUN 1) a person or machine that threshes. 2) a shark with a long upper lobe to the tail, used to lash the water to guide its prey …   English terms dictionary

  • thresher — [thresh′ər] n. 1. a person who threshes 2. THRESHING MACHINE 3. any of a family (Alopiidae, order Lamniformes) of large sharks of temperate and tropical seas, having a very long upper tail lobe, which supposedly threshes the water and drives its… …   English World dictionary

  • thresher — /thresh euhr/, n. 1. a person or thing that threshes. 2. Also, thrasher. Also called thresher shark. a large shark of the genus Alopias, esp. A. vulpinus, which threshes the water with its long tail to drive together the small fish on which it… …   Universalium

  • Thresher — Thrasher Thrash er, Thresher Thresh er, n. 1. One who, or that which, thrashes grain; a thrashing machine. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A large and voracious shark ({Alopias vulpes}), remarkable for the great length of the upper lobe of its tail …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thresher — noun Date: 13th century 1. one that threshes; especially threshing machine 2. thresher shark …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • thresher — /ˈθrɛʃə/ (say threshuh) noun 1. someone or something that threshes. 2. someone who separates grain or seeds from wheat, etc., by beating with a flail, using a threshing machine, etc. 3. Also, thrasher, thresher shark. a large shark of the genus… …  

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