To enfold or this case enclose something, i.e. the hair in the paper.

Referencing the folk tale of straightening curly hairs to deter a devil.

Straightening of curly head hair.

"Gypsies" as commonly referred to in this period were seen as people that were close to the supernatural or perhaps, having a relation to devils/Satan.

One can surmise that this is why she so easily understands the root cause of the farmer's problem.

She came to the farm house or arrive to/at.

A slur for the Romani/Roma people.

These are itinerant people, which means they are a traveling people.

A burdock is large, coarse, and hollow plant that is used for medicinal purposes. Also referred to Arctium.

Another symbolic use for burdock is that it was commonly used to ward off "evil eye." Which is a malevolent glare. It dates back to the 6th century (Greek Antiquity.)

The usage here is interesting in that the burdock is something that could ward off the devil in certain cultures. It's almost as if the devil is taunting the farmer.

A tool used for harvesting crops. It has a long curved blade on a long wooden blade with two additional handles. Swings in a swiping horizontal motion.

A sickle would have only one handle.

The addition of the harrow-tines that the farmer placed in order to make it more difficult or impossible for the devil to mow the field, were in fact not making any difference.

Make no difference/Made no difference

quickly or hastily paced

A spiked tool that would be dragged across the floor to remove debris and unwanted vegetation.

For refining the seed bedding before planting new vegetation.

Driving a post or nail -- hammering and piercing through the ground or wood.

Refers to the devil running off to complete the task.

a sieve is basically a strainer -- may be maid out of wire or another mesh like material.

Would be used to separate the unwanted material in the alcohol.

It's an oak barrel that is used to mature whiskey. These are larger casks that are typically used for another type of alcohol prior to being used for whiskey (Scotch/Scottish typically.)

Cask is another definition for a barrel.

While this would be an otherwise "Impossible Task" for a mortal. It is one that is well within reason for a devil/Satan.

The Farmer must trick the devil. Which is what the cunning man meant.

Just a simple taste of what's to come. A Taste.

This is a trope or theme that has been used throughout folklore and stories from before the feudal era. It is called "The Impossible Task."

In general, the person who assigns the task does not expect the hero to succeed and is just trying to get rid of them or to make an excuse to not keep their end of a deal. Sometimes the Impossible Task is a quest, often involving killing an unkillable beast, but in other cases the task is a simple paradox or riddle. - https://allthetropes.fandom.com/wiki/Impossible_Task

There is a pretty enjoyable episode involving "The Impossible Task" and The Devil in the show "Futurama". Recent popular culture.

Cunning man or Cunning Folk were healers or diviners seen from the 15th century to the 20th century throughout European folklore. They are seen as experts in their crafts or fields (medicine, magic, divination."

The term is used as a catch all, encompassing the whole lot of varying names throughout different European countries.

Cloven hoof, cleft hoof, split hoof, or cloven foot, in this instance are all synonyms for the feet/hooves of the mammal species "Artiodactyla."

Also used to represent satyrs (god Pan in mythos.)

When used in reference to the Devil it is seen as sign or mark that would represent him. Goats are typically another sign or representation of the devil in animal form -- which have cloven hooves.

This is referencing someone who is "weird, strange, or odd."

So the farmer thought he had got a strange sort of a thresher man.

A sheaf or sheave's are bundles of grain stalks that are laid down length wise. They are tired together and typically done so after "reaping."

Reaping - harvest the crop from (a piece of land).

A flail is defined as threshing tool or as a weapon. Depending on the culture and time period.

The flail is a long wood-handled staff-like agricultural tool/weapon with a heavy spiked ball attached to a chain, that was used in Central Europe and Germany beginning in the 15th century.

Mow means a heap or stack. It can be used as either a verb or a noun. The noun variation of Mow would be referring to a place in which hay or corn is stored.

Threshing is when you separate grain from (a plant), typically with a flail or by the action of a revolving mechanism.

Whereas "throw down" in this context, would be referring to the action of throwing something to the ground. As in the bundles of grain.

The devil could mean any form of a demon or Satan himself, as he is later referred to in the text.