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.
SWITHER, v.3, n.3
I. v. tr. and intr. To beat, give (one) a hard smart stroke, belabour, batter (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 181), vbl.n. switherin, a thrashing (Ib.); “to make to fall, throw over” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 293:
Your hide wi' a stick should be swither'd.Rxb. 1806 J. Hogg Poems 71:
To wark they fell, what they could swither. The lint flew fast frae ane anither.
II. n. A hard blow, a thump, wallop (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 181), a beating, thrashing.s.Sc. 1819 Edb. Ev. Courant (17 April) 4:
He said he had not killed him, but that he had given him a good swither.
