corruption of SWAN-UPPING.
1598. in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 75. Mr. Glover presented a debte of iij s. iiij d. which was laid out for bakeing of Pyes when they went Swan Hopping.
1657. Howell, Londinop., 395. How stately is he attended when he goes to take a view of the River, or a Swan-hopping?
1746. H. Walpole, Lett. (1846), II. 145. Two city companies in their great barges, who had been a swan-hopping.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., III. xi. [Like] my Lord Mayor’s barge on the river Thames when his lordship is graciously pleased to go swan-hopping.
1854. Meall, Moubray’s Poultry, 29. The Royal Swan Happing (or upping, as it was called by the Cockneys).
1884. Alice Carr, in Harper’s Mag., July, 255/2. The City Companies … had been up the river ‘swan-hopping.’
