WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Thresh"old
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. threswold, ?reshwold, AS. ?rescwald, ?erscwald, ?erscold, ?rescold, fr. ?rescan, ?erscan, to thresh; akin to Icel. ?reskj?de, ?r?skuldr, Sw. tr?skel, Dan. t?rskel. See Thrash.]
Definition : 1. The plank, stone, or piece of timber, which lies under a door, especially of a dwelling house, church, temple, or the like; the doorsill; hence, entrance; gate; door.

2. Fig.: The place or point of entering or beginning, entrance; outset; as, the threshold of life.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913