north-midl. dial. Also 6 swaller, 8–9 swailer, 9 sweeler. [f. swale, SWEAL v. + -ER1.] A dealer in corn: see quots.
1591. Manch. Crt. Leet Rec. (1885), II. 130. No swaller that ys a fforrener … shall sell or measure any corne vpon any other daye then vppon the Saturdaye and mundaye.
1743–4. Alstonfield Par. Const. Acc. (E.D.D.). Paid for writing warrants for badgers and swalers to take licenses, £00 . 0 . 06.
1796. Pegge, Derbicisms (E.D.S.), Badger.… He is called also a swailer, I suppose from melting or swealing the oats; for the badger or swailer is one that sells oatmeal.
1829. Glover’s Hist. Derby, I. 198. The people who deal in oatmeal are called swalers or mealmen.
1848. Evans, Leicester. Words, Swaler, a person whose trade it is to prepare oats into grits, meal, &c.: from ‘swealing’ or ‘swaling,’ i. e., wasting or lessening the grain a little.
1887. Folk-sp. S. Chesh., Sweeler, a dealer in corn.
