bensel

1 of 2

noun

ben·​sel ˈben(t)-səl 

ˈben-zəl

variants or less commonly bensil

ˈben(t)-səl,

ˈben-zəl

plural -s

chiefly Scottish

: sudden violent motion or action

bensel

2 of 2

transitive verb

ben·​sel ˈben(t)-səl 

ˈben-zəl

variants or less commonly bensil

ˈben(t)-səl,

ˈben-zəl

benseled or benselled; benseled or benselled; benseling or benselling; bensels

chiefly Scottish

: to strike violently : beat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse benzl bent state of a bow, from benda to bend

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