[Obscure variant of SWART a.; cf. SWARTHY a.1, and SWARF a., SWARFISH, SWARFY.] Dusky, swarthy, black.
c. 1530. [implied in swarthness].
1569. C. T[ye], Nastagio & Traversari, A vj b. A knight, of colour swarthe.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, VI. xxii. 787. Such women as … are subiect to pale and swarth colours.
1600. E. Bolton, Palinode, in Eng. Helicon, B iv b. Swarth clowdes.
1613. Fletcher, etc., Captain, II. ii. He looks Of a more rusty swarth Complexion Than an old arming Doublet.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 749. A swarth Indian with his belt of beads.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, I. vii. Where thwarting tides, with mingled roar, Part thy swarth hills from Morven’s shore.
1851. Mayne Reid, Scalp Hunters, vii. 55. The complexion, from tan and exposure, was brown and swarth.
fig. 1621. Fletcher, Isl. Princess, V. i. Foule swarthe ingratitude.
b. sb. Swarthiness; dusky complexion or color. rare.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 258. The skies Face and black swarth of cloud threaten no ill: ’Tis summer-thunder.
1872. Browning, Fifine, xv. First Let me … pourtray you … The sypsy’s foreign self, no swarth our sun could bake.
Hence Swarthish a., somewhat swarthy; Swarthness, swarthiness, duskiness.
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, II. ii. 11 b. A swarthnes, a derknes & dymnes in the vryne, most to blaknesse warde.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 86. A … long visage, and a swarthish complexion.
