Sc. and north. Also 6–7 swache, 7 suache, swatche. [Origin unknown.]
1. † The ‘foil’ or ‘counterstock’ of a tally (obs.); in Yorkshire, a tally ‘affixed to a piece of cloth before it is put with others into the dye-kettle’ (Robinson, Whitby Gloss., 1876).
1512. Northumbld. Househ. Bk. (1770), 60. That the said Clerkis of the Brevements entre all the Taills of the Furniunturs in the Jornall Booke in the Countynghous every day furthwith after the Brede be delyveret to the Pantre and then the Stoke of the Taill to be delyveret to the Baker and the Swache to the Pantler.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, A Swache, a Tally: that which is fixt to Cloth sent to Dye, of which the Owner keeps the other part.
a. 1800. Pegge, Suppl. Grose (1814), Swatch, a pattern, or tally, a term among dyers in Yorkshire, &c.
2. A sample piece of cloth.
1647. in Sc. Jrnl. Topog. (1847), I. 95/1. I … tryid for ye neirest swachis of clothe I could find conforme to ye orders reseuid.
1690. Records New Mills Cloth Manuf. (S.H.S.), 219. That swatches of the most fashionable collours be sent to David Maxwell that he may dye them.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., VII. xi. (1849), 352. He had come with his swatches, in consequence of hearing I was likely to require a coloured coat.
1874. Crookes, Dyeing & Calico-Printing, 658. Few colours … do not show a distinction if a swatch be cut in halves and preserved, the one in darkness and the other in the light.
transf. a. 1708. T. Ward, Eng. Ref., I. (1710), 14. Those little swatches, Us’d by the Fair sex, called Patches.
3. fig. A sample, specimen.
1697. J. Sage, Fundamental Charter of Presbytery, Pref. (ed. 2), C vj b. Such a sample of him; such a swatch (pardon the word, if it is not English) of both his Historical and his Argumentative Skill.
1708. Caldwell Papers (Maitl. Cl.), I. 216. My Lord Macclesfield and his retinue they took for a swatch of the nation.
1719. Ramsay, To Arbuckle, 95. Ye’s get a short swatch of my creed.
1785. Burns, Holy Fair, x. On this hand sits a chosen swatch, Wi’ screw’d up grace-proud faces.
1823. Galt, R. Gilhaize, xiv. Truly … thou’s no an ill swatch o’ the Reformers.
1841. R. W. Hamilton, Nugæ Lit., 355 (On Yorks. Dial.). A Swatch, or smatch, is an attack, not very serious, of any evil. ‘A swatch of the fever.’
