Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†SWELT, v.2, n.2. Also swalt (Ork.); and altered form swert (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)). [swɛlt; Sh. + swɛrt]
I. v. To swallow, gulp, to snap at with the mouth, as a hungry fish at bait (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 214, 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw., swalt).
II. n. As much as one can swallow, a bellyful, gen. of drink (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
[An alteration of *swelk, Norw. dial., O.N. svelgja, id., partly under the influence of Swelt, v.1 (see swalk, ib.), partly poss. from Norw. dial. reduced forms pa.t. svolde, pa.p. svolt, svølt, svelt.]
