Sc. and north. dial. Also 6 swarth, 7 swerf, 7, 9 swarve, 9 swerve, swairf, swaif, etc. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.). [? a. ON. svarfa to upset (Norw. svarva to agitate or be agitated, lit. and fig.), with specialized development of meaning. See SWERVE v.]
1. intr. To faint, swoon.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. xv. 116. All paill and bludles swarthis [v.r. swarfis] scho rycht thair.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, II. 760. He stood vnmov’d, whill I for greiff did swarve.
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 324. No sooner did he heare a ham spoken of but he swarfed.
1660. A. Hay, Diary (S.H.S.), 234. After sermons my wiffe swerfed in the kirk.
1790. Burns, Battle of Sheriffmuir, iv. Mony a huntit, poor red-coat, For fear amaist did swarf.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxvii. He was like a man awa frae himsell … and I thought he wad hae swarv’t a’ thegither.
a. 1837. R. Nicoll, Poems (1843), 143. The bairnies crowd round him his stories to hear Whill maistly the wee things are swarfin’ in fear.
1892. J. Lumsden, Sheep-head & Trotters, 32.
| Stowlins, old Magge, her nurse, drew near | |
| And swarf’d outright wi’ gladsome fright. |
2. trans. To cause to faint: to stupefy.
1813. Picken, Poems, I. 120. A sight had nearhaun swarf’d the callan.
1824. Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl., s.v. Luscan, The scene … swarf’d him so, that he could not utter a word.
