Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

SWEEL, n.³, v.³ Also sweal, sweil; swill, swuil, suil(l), swell. See also Sool. [swil, I.Sc. swɪl]

I. n. 1. A swivel, in I.Sc. use esp. of a swivel on a grazing animal's tether (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 211, 1914 Angus Gl., swill; Ork. 1929 Marw., swill, swuil; Uls. 1929; I., ne.Sc., em.Sc. (a), Gall. 1972).Bte. 1722 Rothesay T.C. Rec. (1935) II. 678:
For perchment and suills to the drum.Abd. 1752 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 16:
1 symilk, 1 suil and 1 knif.Edb. 1759 Edb. Chronicle (14 April):
A neat assortment of Fishing Tackle; lines, wenches, suills and pyke-hooks.Ork. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 383:
You'll find it on the coo's tether, outside, it's just from the knot to the swell.Sh. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 229:
A “swill” is a bit of wood about six inches long and three broad, rounded at the ends, and with two holes in it. Through those holes the knotted ends of rope were passed, and the “swill” had the curious effect of preventing the ropes from tangling.Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (31 March):
The tether had its “headsteel,” “sweel” and “baukie.”Abd. 1917 Rymour Club Misc. II. 182:
Never tether a caufie wintin' a sweil.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 124:
Roomin oot twa aik swills wi da singin iron.

¶2. A compass. Nonce.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xliv. 13:
He gangs at it wi' chisels syne, an' syne he lays't aff wi' a sweel.

II. v. To tether animals at grass together with a swivel on the rope to give limited free play to their movements (Uls. 1931 Northern Whig (15 Dec.) 10; Sh. 1972).Uls. 1892 Ballymena Obs. (E.D.D.):
A pair o' sweeled sheep.