Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SWOOF, v., n. Also swouff. [swuf]
I. v. 1. intr. To make a rustling swishing sound, as the wind, a bird in flight, etc., to make one's way with a whirring noise, as of wings (Sh. 1972).Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xii.:
O furnish him this night wi' the wings o' the wild gainner or the eagle, that he may swoof away back to a better hame.Sc. 1832 Chambers's Jnl. (March) 57:
Something seeming to swoof down the stairs, like the noise of a full garment brushing the walls of a narrow passage.Abd. 1836 J. Grant Tales of Glens 251:
The cauld winds did swoof through the rifted roof.Bwk. 1879 W. Chisholm Poems 19:
When the wak'nin' hoolets cam' doon To swoof thro' the air wi' an eerie soon'.em.Sc. 1988 James Robertson in Joy Hendry Chapman 52 72:
He clautit it out wi his nail, and wis haudin it up tae the licht lik a medal atween his fingers, whan a muckle sea-maw swouffed doun an cleiked it awa in its neb.
2. tr. To hum, sing softly under the breath.Sc. 1828 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 561:
Ane holie sawme sung ower myne heide, And swoofit with my last brethe.
II. n. A swishing, blowing sound (Sh. 1972).
[O.Sc. suofe, to breathe softly in sleep, 1590, prob. a variant of Souch, but formally partly onomat. and partly influenced by Sowff.]
