dial. Forms: 4 swayl, 6 swaill, swaile, swaule, swawle, 6–7 swall(e, 8–9 swale, 9 swaul. [Of obscure origin.
If the orig. meaning was a pliant ‘swaying’ piece of wood, the two types swail, swall, may represent an OE. *swaʓ(e)l, *swaʓol, f. swaʓ-, cogn. with Scand. svag- in Norw. svaga (see SWAG v.); cf. ME. hail, haul (OE. hæʓel, haʓol), HAIL sb.1]
Timber in laths, boards or planks; planking; also, a lath, plank.
For specialized local uses see quots. 1841 and 1903.
1325. Rolls of Parlt., I. 434/2. Qu’ele peusse pur swayl & autres busoignes necessaries de la meson, abatre en la dit boys cent rores.
1505–6. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 103. Pro sarracione le swailles pro eisdem [domibus porcorum].
1531–2. Durham Househ. Bk. (Surtees), 80. Pro sarracione 1/2 rod in swalles 10 d. Ibid., 130. 1 lytyll swall and 12 bords.
1557. Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 80. For swaile for a saunce belle … ij d.
1574. Richmond Wills (Surtees), 249. Foure swawles and foure trists, vs.
1582. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1860), 47. iij swalles for a horse baye.
1597. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 740. For sawinge Sarkyn boordes and Swalles for the churche and the new bridge.
1600. Knaresb. Wills (Surtees), I. 222. A swalle of timber lyinge at Beckwithe.
1640. Gateshead Church Bks., in Northumbld. Gloss., s.v. Swale, For 12 swalls for formes for the church.
1648. in Archaeologia Æliana (1892), XV. 252. For 20 Swalls to be scaffolds.
1799. Naval Chron., I. 176. Stepping down the side of the Yarmouth hulk at Plymouth, he fell against the swale of the vessel.
1841. Hartshorne, Salopia Ant., Gloss. 582. Swale, a piece of wood going from an upright shaft in an oatmeal mill to one of the wheels.
1903. Eng. Dial. Dict., Swauls, the outside bars in the frame of the bottom of a cart. w. Yks.
