the verb-stem in combination.
1. In attrib. relation to the second element. (In some of these the first element may be SWEEP sb.) Sweep-bar = sway-bar (see SWAY-); sweep-board (see quot.); sweep-brush, a brush used by paperhangers for smoothing paper as it is laid on; sweep-head a., applied to a miner’s pick with a curved head; sweep-panelled a., ? having curved panels; sweep-piece Shipbuilding, sweep-plate (see quots.); sweep-rake, (a) see quot. 1884; (b) a wheeled frame with long teeth for sweeping up crops lying in swath; sweep-rod, a long rod operating as a lever; sweep-rope = SWEEP sb. 29; sweep-saw, a saw adapted for cutting sweeps or curves; a bow-saw, turning-saw; sweep-seine = SWEEP-NET 1; hence sweep-seining, the use of a sweep-seine; sweep-slide = sweep-piece; sweep-table [= F. table à balais], = sweeping table (SWEEPING vbl. sb. 3); † sweep tail, a long sweeping tail; sweep wire, a wire used in sweeping for something under water; sweep-work, curved work. See also SWEEP-NET.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., *Sweep-bar, of a waggon, is that which is fixed on the hind part of the fore guide, and passes under the hind pole, which slides upon it.
1876. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict., Sweep Bar, the rear bar of a siege howitzer limber (O. P.), which connects the futchels.
1911. Webster s.v. Strickle, The strickle is drawn laterally along a guideway, or rotated with a vertical spindle. In the latter case it is more commonly called *sweepboard or striking board.
1901. J. Black’s Carp. & Build., Home Handicr., 77. The *sweep brush or smoothing roller is taken from the apron pocket and smooths the paper on to the ceiling progressively.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, *Sweep-head Pick, a pick the form of the head of which is made curved instead of elbowed or anchored, as other kinds are termed.
1843. C. J. C. Davidson, Trav. Upper India, ix. II. 209. Buggies, full, half, or *sweep-panelled.
1857. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., *Sweep-piece, a block at the bottom of the port-sill for receiving the chock of the gun-carriage, and to aid in training the gun.
1851. Greenwell, Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh., 54. *Sweep-plates, curved plates for laying barrow-way round a turn.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl., *Sweep Rake, the rake that clears the table of a self rake reaper.
1910. Encycl. Brit., XIII. 108/1. An American invention known as the sweep rake was introduced … into England in 1894.
1867. W. W. Smyth, Coal & Coal-mining, 184. When pumps are to be worked, it is usually by *sweep-rods passing from the crank on the main shaft to quadrants or bell-cranks at the shaft mouth.
1848. Jal, Gloss. Naut., 1412. *Sweep-rope, Corde employée à draguer les objets restés au fond de la mer.
1846. Holtzapffel, Turning, II. 728. The turning-saw, or *sweep-saw … also called the fame-saw, or bow-saw.
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 351. The shad and herring fisheries upon the sounds and inlets of the North Carolina coast … The largest *sweep seines in the world are used.
1838. Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 353/1. She mounts two 84 pounders bow and stern, on *sweep slides.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 816. At the upper part of these five *sweep tables, the materials which are to undergo washing are agitated in two boxes … by small paddle-wheels.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2190/4. A Bay Nag with a *Sweep Tail.
1909. Westm. Gaz., 15 July, 7/1. The torpedo boat No. 99 has been anchored to her by sweep wires.
1847. Smeaton, Builder’s Man., 93. In bending and glueing-up stuff for *sweep-work.
2. With the second element in objective relation: sweep-all nonce-wd., one who ‘sweeps up’ or appropriates all, = SWEEPSTAKE 1; sweep-chimney Obs. or dial., a chimney-sweeper; † sweep-gallery, -house, a person employed to sweep a gallery or a house, a menial servant; † sweep-street, (a) ? one whose long garments sweep the street; (b) a streetsweeper.
1695. J. Edwards, Author. O. & N. Test., III. 533. The avaritious and extorting Pretor of Sicily is by Tully call’d Verrens, *Sweep-all.
1657. Baxter, Min. agst. Malign., § 12. 6. I would be a Plow-man,… if not a *sweep-Chimney, rather then a Minister.
1716. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., III. 87. It [sc. a conduit of stone for water] serves only for Sweep-Chimneys to stand by,… and therefore vulgarly call’s Sweep-Chimneys-Hall.
1826. Times, 5 Jan., 3/4. He was a sweep-chimney by profession.
1853. Hughes, Scour. White Horse, v. 94. Eleven on ’em started, and amongst ’em a sweep chimley and a millurd.
1705. in Ushaw Mag. (1903), Dec., 299. Bernard ye *sweepgallery.
1621. Sir S. D’Ewes, in College Life t. Jas. I., iii. (1851), 50. Two base *sweep-houses belonging to him, who were recusants.
1553. Bale, Vocacyon, 43. They are but pilde peltinge prestes,… though they be sir *Swepestretes, maistre doctours, and lorde bishoppes.
1612. trans. Benvenuto’s Passenger, II. i. 423. Shoomakers, Woodmongers, Sweepe-streetes [orig. Spaza camini], Faulkners.
