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.
SWINGE, v., n., adv. Also sweenge; swunge. [swɪn(d)ʒ, swin(d)ʒ]
I. v. 1. To beat, whip, flog, belabour, drive with blows (Sh. 1972). Now only dial. in Eng.Ayr. 1786 Burns Address Beelzebub 41:
The young dogs, swinge them to the labour.m.Lth. 1794 G. Robertson Har'st Rig (1801) 38:
Some master-man, Was soundly swing'd.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 8:
He wha found the bead swunged monniest [adders].Sc. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xi.:
We have swinged them as far as the Abbey Gate.
2. To walk with a heavy, swinging gait (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 188).
II. n. 1. A heavy blow, a violent swiping motion, a dash or clash, a forcible impetus (w.Lth., wm.Sc., Dmf. 1972). Obs. or dial. in Eng.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 224:
Owre steep rocks he did them throw, Wi' a tight swinge.Slk. 1810 Hogg Poems (1874) 279:
He gae the kerlin' sic a swinge.Ayr. 1953 Ayrshire Post (28 Aug.):
The shot had to be played with a “sweenge”, that is, the plunker, held in the crook of the forefinger, and with the knuckles hard to the ground, was flicked forward by the thumb sliding off the middle finger. The rest of the hand had to remain steady.
2. A heavy swinging gait (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 188).
III. adv. With a heavy swinging gait (Ib.).
[Mid.Eng. swinge, swenge, to beat, O.E. swengan, to shake, dash, sweng, a stroke, blow, causative forms of Swing, q.v.]
