A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Swak, Suak, v. Also: swayk. P.t. also swaket, -yde, suackit. [Swak n.]
1. tr. To throw with a violent action; to dash, hurl, fling. Also with inanimate subject. Also const. doun, furth, out.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 381.
The mastir … beknyt til his men in hy To swak Sir Eustace in the se c1420 Wynt. iv 382.
That Cyrus suld hym tak in ire, And swayk hym in a brynnand fyre a1500 K. Hart 288.
Speik thow ane wourde thy four feit sall I bind Syn swak thé our the wallis in the se 1513 Doug. v vii 85.
Eneas Pasys thar weght as lychtly as a fas, Thar hydduus braseris swakand to and fro 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2436.
In hir armes culd scho tak Ane mekill stane, and in the well did swakp.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 6344.
He lychted sone, … And suaked fra him spere and sheld And helme c1420 Wynt. i 365.
That swayne he swakyde oure that hycht a1500 K. Hart 285.
Ane ladill full of luif stude him behind He swakit in his ene and maid him blind c1590 J. Stewart 93/500.
Great stoks, and stons, and monie brainchis greine, Thairin he suackit 1609 Ellon Presb. 80.
He traillit hir out at the dur be the hair and thrie times swakit hir to the eirth on the stanes(2) 1513 Doug. iii viii 114.
Syne wald the waw swak ws doun ful evyn 1513 Doug. x xi 175.
O ȝe wyndis, … On rowkis and on craggis by and by Do swak this schypp.p. 1513 Doug. xii xiv 86.
Neuer sa swyftly quhidderand the stane flaw Swakkit from the engyne(3) 1375 Barb. x 623 (H).
And nocht-for-thi ȝeit ves thar ane Of thame that swakked [E. swappyt] doun a stane 1375 Barb. xvii 691 (H).
The gynour than gert bend in hy The gyne and swakked [E. wappyt, C. swappit] out the stane c1420 Wynt. i 1539 (W).
He … tyt fra him his lomys syne And gert swak thaim out in the se a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 522.
Ane purs of gold and mony gay iowall … in the skirt of Cresseid [he] doun can swak a1500 Henr. Fab. 2081.
The hering ane and ane Out of the creillis he swakkit doun gude wane 1513 Doug. v iv 78.
The mychty karvell … Down swakand fludis vndir hyr brayd bilge of aik 1513 Doug. vii xii 182.
Thir horny hovit horsis … at the sey monstreis skarrit And brak the cart … And furth swakkit Hippolitus 1533 Boece 392b.
ijm men … suld ascend the hicht of the montane and … suld swak doun grete and wechty stanys
2. intr. a. To deal violent blows; to swing (a weapon) wildly. b. To fall heavily.a. c1475 Wall. v 195.
At Wallace in the hed he swaket thare 1513 Doug. xi xiii 19 (Ruddim.).
Tarpeia, that stoutly turnis and swakkis With the wele stelit and braid billit ax c1590 J. Stewart 69/148.
Thay suak and poulsis to and fro full fastb. 1513 Doug. x xiv 156.
Vpstendis than the stalwart steid on hycht … Down swakkis the knycht sone with a fellon fair
