Now chiefly dial. Also 6 swagge, 8–9 swagg. [The existence of this verb is perh. attested for the 15th cent. in swaggyng (s.v. SWAGGING vbl. sb. note), and in SWAGE v.2 Its immediate source is uncertain, but it is prob. Scandinavian: cf. Norw. dial. svagga and svaga to sway (see SWAY v. etym.).
The English word might correspond to a Scandinavian form of either type (with -gg- or -g-), according to dialect; cf., on the one hand, NAG v. (Norw., Sw. nagga), SAG v. (Norw. dial. sagga), WAG v. (MSw. wagga); on the other, DRAG v. (ON. draga), FLAG sb.2 (Icel. flag, ON. flaga), SNAG (Norw. dial. snag, snage); also Sc. swaw = undulating or swinging motion, and FLAW sb.1 (ON. flaga).]
1. intr. To move unsteadily or heavily from side to side or up and down; to sway without control.
a. of a pendulous part of the body, or of the whole person. spec. in Horsemanship: see quot. 1850.
1530. Palsgr., 744/1. I swagge, as a fatte persons belly swaggeth as he goth, je assouage.
1598. R. Haydocke, trans. Lomazzo, II. 13. Moouing their limmes moderatly, and not permitting them to swag, hang, turne aside and be dilated.
1641. W. Hooke, New Eng. Teares, 11. Here ride some dead men swagging in their deep saddles.
a. 1712. W. King, Acc. Horace’s Behaviour, Wks. 1776, III. 36. Bless me, Sir, how many craggs You’ve drunk of potent ale! No wonder if the belly swaggs.
1838. Fraser’s Mag., XVII. 683. He … swags forward with the gait neither of Christian, Pagan, nor man.
1850. ‘H. Hieover’ (C. Brindley), Pract. Horsemanship, 11. The idea that tall men are apt to, what is technically termed, ‘swag’ on the horse.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., ix. The stout chief … sat swagging from one side to the other of the carriage.
b. of a structure or something erected or set in position, a boat, or the like. (Also occas. of a rigid body, to get out of line.)
1611. Cotgr., Baccoler,… to tottar, swag, swing, lift, or heaue often vp and downe.
1633. T. James, Voy., 79. Which made her [sc. a ship] swag and wallow in her Docke.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, II. Wks. 1873, III. 393. These pounds are (as I feel them swag) Light at my heart, tho’ heavy in the bag.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, 51. Establish their weak stalks, by siefting some more earth about them; especially the Pines, which being more top-heavy are more apt to swag.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1757), 193. Hay will often swag and pitch in the reek after making.
1784. trans. Beckford’s Vathek, 77. These vigilant guards, having remarked certain cages of the ladies swagging somewhat awry.
1793. Washington, Lett., Writ. 1891, XII. 379. The advantage of this latch is, that let the gate swag as it may, it always catches.
1801. Encycl. Brit., Suppl. II. 519/2. The thread, being … unable to bear close packing on the bobin, would swag out by the whirling of the fly.
1812. J. J. Henry, Camp. agst. Quebec, 58. Though we attempted to steady it, the boat swagged.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 839. If hurried, the walls will surely be crippled; that is, they will swag, or swerve from the perpendicular.
1867. D. G. Mitchell, Rural Stud., 85. The posts are firm and cannot swag.
c. transf. and fig. To sway; † to vacillate.
1608. Middleton, Mad World, III. i. I’ll poise her words i’ th’ balance of suspect: If she but swag, she’s gone.
1649. Owen, Stedfastness of Promises (1650), 14. The Promise, that draws the Soul upward, and the weight of its unbelief, that sinks it downward:… the poor Creatures swaggs between both.
1705. J. Dunton, Life & Errors, 430. If Prerogative swaggs too far on the one side, to step over to Property.
1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIII. xiii. (1872), V. 130. The Austrian left wing, stormed-in upon in this manner, swags and sways.
1887. G. Hooper, Camp. Sedan, 128. The front of battle swagged to and fro.
2. To sink down; to hang loosely or heavily; to sag. Also with down.
1621. trans. Drexelius’ Angel-Guardian’s Clock, 270. His iawes began to drie,… his armes to swagg.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, London (1662), II. 199. A Swaggerer, so called, because endevouring to make that Side to swag or weigh down, whereon he ingageth.
1713. Warder, True Amazons, 111. Or else such a Weight will make it swag.
1731. Phil. Trans., XXXVII. 31. As the Line swagged down much below the Silk Lines that supported it.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Swagg, to sink down by its own weight; to move heavily or bend.
1876. Blackmore, Cripps, xxvi. A timber-dray … with a great trunk swinging and swagging on the road.
1876. Whitby Gloss., s.v., ‘It swagg’d wi’ wet,’ was depressed with moisture; said of a plant.
1883. M. P. Bale, Saw-Mills, 337. Swag, a term applied to driving belts when they are too long or run too loosely.
transf. 1769. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 154/1. Many dreadful clouds … had been swagging about.
1790. Blake, Marr. Heaven & Hell, Argt. Hungry clouds swag on the deep.
3. trans. To cause to sway uncertainly; to rock about; also, to cause to sink or sag.
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, I. iii. 5 b. Nother that it be not swagged nor borne fro place to place. For shakyng and boystyous ordryng may cause vryne to be trubbled.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., Dict., s.v. Truss, To Truss up … a Branch of a Wall-Tree … that the Fruit may not … disfigure the Tree by Swagging it down with its weight.
1708. Sewel, Eng.-Du. Dict., s.v., This weight will swag it down.
1777. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 215/2. He swagged the boat, and in a few minutes filled it and sunk it.
1802. Maria Edgeworth, Rosanna, i. The couplings and purlins of the roof … swagged down by the weight of the thatch.
4. [f. SWAG sb. 10.] a. intr. To swag it: to carry one’s ‘swag’ or bundle of effects. b. trans. To pack up (one’s effects) in a ‘swag.’
1861. T. M’Combie, Australian Sk., 5. The solitary pedestrian, with the whole of his supplies, consisting of a blanket and other necessary articles, strapped across his shoulders—this load is called the ‘swag,’ and the mode of travelling, ‘swagging it.’
1887. W. W. Graham, Climbing the Himalayas, iii. in From Equator to Pole, 101. We accordingly swagged up our things.
