Sc. Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 6 swasche, (suasche, squasche, swach(e, swass, sc(h)osche ?), 6, 9 swash; 6 swesch(e, swech(e, (suech, suis, suishe, swische), 6, 9 swesch, swesh, 7 swy(s)che. [Perh. orig. in full swasche, swesche, or swische ta(l)burne (see TABORN sb.), but the orig. meaning and source of swasche, etc. are unknown.] A kind of drum. Also attrib. swash-head, a drum-head; swash-man = SWASHER1
1533. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VI. 159. For ane swasche talburne to the futmen xx s. Ibid. (1541), VII. 478. The twa Toddeis that playis upoun the Swische taburn. Ibid. (1543–4), VIII. 250. Thre playarris upon the swesche.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages, 20. With trumpet, schalme, drum, squasche & clarioun.
1562. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 343. Passing throw the toun with ane swech.
1571. Extr. Burgh Rec. Lanark (Burgh Rec. Soc.), 55. That thei nychtly wache with the balleis fra the strak of the secund strak of the suishe.
1574–5. Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1876), I. 455. Item, to Thomas Downy for inputting of the schoscheheid v s. Item, for ane perchement skyn to Robert Muir to cover the scosche iij s, vj d.
1576. in Maitl. Club Misc. (1840), II. 343. For ane swasche to our moustiris iiijli.
1593. Extr. Aberd. Regr. (1848), II. 81. Andro Inglis, sweschman, commoun servand to the toun.
1598. in Pitcairn, Crim. Trials, II. 30. ‘Stryke þe swasch’ and ‘Ryng þe commoun bell!’
1625–6. Charters, etc., Peebles (1872), 414. Item, gewine John Robeine for striking of the swyche, xij s.
1672. Burgh Rec. Peebles (1872), 336. At the stryking of the swysche.
¶ Misused for: A trumpet. Also swash-trump.
This is the only meaning given by Jamieson, 1808, on the authority of quot. 1609; cf. also the following, where the Latin original would seem to warrant such a meaning:—
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. lxiv. (S.T.S.), 238. Horsmen with swasche and taberne [orig. cornicines tubicinesque in equis impositos].
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Gild, 143. After they heare the striak of the swesch (or the sound of the trumpet).
1819. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 47. Wi’ swesch-trump in his hand.
1871. Waddell, Ps. in Scottis, xlvii. 5. God has gane up wi’ a sugh; the Lord wi’ the tout o’ a swesch.
