local (Kent and Sussex). Also 5–6 pa. pple. swared. [Cf. the synonymous QUAR v.1] Chiefly pass., to be choked up with sediment, to be silted up. Hence Swarving vbl. sb.
1485. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 331/1. The said Ryver, at the said place called Sarre … is so swared, growen, and hyghed with wose,… that nowe no Fery … may be there.
1548. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 30. The Channell there is so choked swared and fylled uppe, that there cannot lye in the same Harborowe [of Camber, near Rye] above thirtie or fowrtie saylle of Shippes.
1562. in W. Holloway’s Hist. Romney Marsh (1849), 141. A creek or waterway swawed [sic] or dried up.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1545/2. The hauens mouth would … haue soone beene swarued vp.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 544. A narrow way almost swarved up with rubbidge.
1665. in W. Holloway’s Hist. Romney Marsh (1849), 165. When the ditches and bounds be swarved up.
1701. Wallis, in Phil. Trans., XXII. 978. At Hythe in Kent (which is one of the Cinq-Ports) there was … a Convenient Harbour for small Vessels; which is now swarved up.
1904. Maud S. Rawson, Apprentice, 17. The swarving of river channels with sand and shingle.
