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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SWIPE, n.2 Also swype. A crossing-switch or points in a railway in a coal-mine (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 66, Ayr. 1972); in quot. phs. a curved plate which carries the rails round a sharp bend. Also in n. Eng. mining-usage in form swape.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 70:
The stowin' o' throu'arts, or layin' o' swypes.

[Orig. somewhat uncertain, phs. a variant of Eng. dial. swape, a lever, swivel. See note to Swaip. There may have been formal confusion with Sweep, swipe.]

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