Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SWAP, n.3, v.3 Also swaup. See also Swab, n.1 [swɑp]
I. n. The shell or pod of peas or beans before they begin to swell and mature (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Lth. 1972); also of the peas or beans themselves. Comb. bean-swaup, id., fig. of a thin, weakly person.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man I. v.:
An Charlie come he's as gude as some three, an' his backman's nae bean-swaup neither.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 207:
The swaup o' the pea an' the turnip shaw.Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 34:
What forest worn to the backhauf's this, What Eden brocht doon to a beanswaup?
II. v. 1. Of peas, beans: to form pods (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. 13:
Sow it with Pease; which, when beginning to swap, or to have Pods, plow down.
2. Fig. of a young animal: to grow in size. to fill out (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Adj. swappy, a the growing stage.Sc. 1810 Farmer's Mag. (March) 103:
From want of distillery-fed cattle, those at grass will be taken when in a swappy state.
