Obs. [Of doubtful origin; see the synonymous SWARM v.2 (North. dialects have swarble beside swarmle in the same sense.)] = SWARM v.2 (intr. and trans.).
15[?]. Isumbras, 351 (Douce MS. 261, lf. 7). He swarued [ed. Copland (c. 1550) swarmed] vp in to a tree Whyle ether of them myght other see.
a. 1613. Overbury, A Wife, etc. (1638), 107. He swarves up to his seat as to a saile-yard.
a. 1650. Sir A. Barton, liii. in Child, Ballads (1889), III. 341/2. With that hee swarued the maine-mast tree [another version, ibid., 345/1 Then up the mast-tree swarved he].
1844. M. A. Richardson’s Historian’s Table-bk., Leg. Div., II. 393. Now leaping, now swarving the slipp’ry steep.
