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.
SWIG, v., n. [swɪg]
‡I. v. 1. intr. To go with a swinging motion, to rock, to jog (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1972); to walk or work with speed and energy (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 231); “to turn suddenly” (s.Sc. 1801 J. Leyden Complaynt 375).Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 141:
He through the glen gaed canty swiggin As trim's a bead.Gsw. 1873 A. G. Murdoch Lilts 76:
Roun' an' roun' the wheel o' life Gangs swiggin' thro' the year.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. i.:
Fan they war a'-yoke, Charlie in the fur an' Sallie on the lan', they swigget on fine.
2. tr. To carry along at speed, to whirl, whisk.Ags. 1921 V. Jacob Bonnie Joann 15:
There's him noo wi' his neb to the sky I' yon deil's machinery swiggit by.
3. To beat, drub, thrash.wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan 381:
Sic an arm o' vigour, Nan might scold an' ban, But brawly could he swigg her.
II. n. 1. A quick, swinging motion, a whisk, flick, wag.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 57:
Keeping time with the swig of her gown.
2. Mien, manner, = Swap, n.2 (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 231). Phs. a different word.
[Prob. of Scand. orig. Cf. Norw. dial. sviga, to swing, work quickly, beat, a pliant twig, sveiga, to walk with a swing. See Swag, v.1]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Swig v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swig>
