Now dial. Also 6 swadde, 6–7 swadd. [? Of Scand. origin: cf. Norw. dial. svadde big stout fellow.]
1. A country bumpkin; a clodhopper; a loutish or clownish fellow: a common term of abuse.
c. 1570. Misogonus, II. ii. 6. Dost thou drinke all thy thrift thou swilbold swadd?
1572. Gascoigne, Hearbes, Voy. Holland, 70. A Dutche, a Devill, a swadde.
1580. H. Gifford, Gilloflowers (1875), 109. When that this swad long trauailde had, Some seruice to require.
1584. R. Wilson, Three Ladies Lond., II. A iij b. Thou horson rascall swad auaunt.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 151. A hare-braind foole in thy head; a vile swad in thy hart; a fowle lyer in thy throate.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Motto, Wks. II. 46/1. When I see a stagg’ring drunken swad.
1628. R. S., Counter Scuffle, lxix. Wert not for vs, thou Swad, quoth hee, Where would’st thou fog to get a fee?
1673. S. Parker, Reproof, Reh. Transp., 268. Thou dastard craven, thou swad, thou mushroom.
b. appos. or as adj.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 101. Sister to swad Encelad.
2. A squat fat person. (Cf. SQUAD a., SQUADDY a.)
[1606. Holland, Sueton., 175. A certeine corpulent and fat swad.
1633. B. Jonson, Tale Tub, II. ii. A blunt squat swad.]
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Swad,… a gross fat Woman.
