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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.

Swap, Suap, v. [ME and e.m.E. swap(p (c1350).] tr. and intr.

1. tr. a. To strike or chop off (fra). b. In fig. context: To strike, hit. c. To strike (a bargain).a. ?1438 Alex. ii 9553.
Thare men micht se … Sa mony hede suappit fra the suyreb. c1475 Wall. ii 250.
This man went doun, and sodanlye he saw, … dede had him [sc. Wallace] swappyt snellc. 1692 Pitcairne Assembly iv i (1766) 46.
I must know what you can do ere I swap a bargain

2. intr. To fight, deal blows. ?1438 Alex. i 147.
With his sword that sharpely share, To ane Grecian he swappit sa That arme and shulder he dang him fra ?1438 Alex. ii 10026.
Sua suappit he with suerd of steill ?1438 Alex. ii 10032.
The nobill renonit king, That weill with suerd couth suap and suyng 1535 Stewart 6683.
Tha swapit ouir quhill all the swyir did swydder 1535 Stewart 38906.
Tha tuke the feild thir freikis with grit force … And suappit on quhill mony ane wes slane

3. tr. To cause (something) to move quickly or violently, specif., to whip out, whirl (about) (a sword); to fling, hurl, throw (doun, out) (a stone, etc.). 1375 Barb. ii 363.
Thai, that held on hors, in hy Swappyt owt swerdis sturdyly 1375 Barb. vi 229.
And syne his suerd he swappit out, And raucht about him mony a rout 1375 Barb. x 624.
Ȝeit ves thar ane Of thame that swappit doun a stane 1375 Barb. xvii 675.
In hye he gert draw the cleket And smertly swappit out the stane ?1438 Alex. i 155.
As Lyonell far by him past, The sword he swappit out in hy ?1438 Alex. ii 10253.
Thare micht men se him suap on hicht His byrnist brand c1420 Wynt. viii 2022 (W).
With the stomp … He swappit egirly the blude Rycht in till William Wallace face c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1283.
His sword he swappit sa about, That he greit roum maid in the rout

4. intr. To move quickly, leap, fling oneself. 1535 Stewart 57765.
Doun fra his hors richt lychtlie that he lap, Syne on agane als fast as he mycht swap

b. To make rapid bobbing movements (up and down). 1535 Stewart 61192.
Out throw the toun tha gart him drawin be, Vpoun ane suey ay swappand vp and doun

c. To fall (suddenly) (in)to a faint or stupor. c1475 Wall. vii 349.
In thair brawnys sone slaid the sleuthfull sleip; Throuch full gluttre in swarff swappyt lik swyn 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 184.
With that word, scho tuke one passioun, Syne flatlyngis fell, and swappit in to swoun 1535 Stewart 697.
[He] Suapit in swoun and mycht na langar stand c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1355.
His cruell mortall woundis Bled sa, that he did swap in swoun

5. tr. To drink off quickly, consume with relish. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 243.
Thai swapit of [M. swappit at] the sueit wyne