[f. SWELL v. + -ING1. In OE. swelling (once); cf. MLG. swillinge, MDu., MHG. swellinge.]
1. The process of becoming, or condition of having become, larger in bulk, as by internal pressure; distension, dilatation, expansion.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 39. The waxing yellowe, and swelling of the knoppes that holde the seede.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 145. They shew the swellings of their mind, in the swellings and plumpings out of their apparrayle.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 259/2. Swelling, is to give it [sc. the metal] its shape, and make it proportionable.
1780. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., x. (1876), 10. There is given to Hercules an extraordinary swelling and strength of muscles.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 32. The swelling of the buds, and the expansion of the leaves.
1875. Bennett & Dyer, trans. Sachs’ Bot., III. iv. 697. These organised bodies are … all capable of swelling: i.e. they have the power of absorbing water or aqueous solutions between their solid particles with such force that the particles are forced apart.
b. concr. A swollen, distended, or protuberant part of something; a protuberance, prominence; † a swell of ground.
In OE. applied to a bellying sail.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 245 (Gr.). Þær meahte ʓesion, se ðone sið beheold, brecan ofer bæðweʓ, brimwudu snyrʓan under swellingum.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 732. The fleshy swellings which the Chyromanticks call hyllockes or Monticles do make the brawne or pulpe of the hand.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 43. Mountaines be naturall swellings of the earth, above the usuall levell or surface of it.
a. 1634. Chapman & Shirley, Chabot, II. iii. 139. He … cannot … stand at all parts So truly circular, so sound, and solid, But have his swellings-out, his cracks and crannies.
1679. [see SWELL v. 1 c].
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 10 Sept. 1677. Euston … is seated in a bottome between two gracefull swellings.
1789. J. Williams, Min. Kingd., II. 368. Some of the bellies, pipes, or swellings of the veins.
1834–5. J. Phillips, Geol., in Encycl. Metrop., VI. 702/2. The little pillars [sc. of the bridge over the Wear] are worked with various swellings and mouldings.
1847. W. C. L. Martin, Ox, 15/1. The convexity and bold swellings of the forehead.
1883. M. P. Bale, Saw-Mills, 337. Swelling, an excrescence upon the exterior of a tree.
1885. C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. IV. 232/2. Too thick a thread will make the ‘swelling’ (the rising caused in the back by the thread) too much.
2. spec. Abnormal or morbid distension or enlargement of some bodily part or member.
Also in Path. with defining words, as cloudy swelling, a form of albuminous degeneration of various tissues (Billings); glassy swelling, amyloid degeneration (Dorland); white swelling, a form of swelling without redness, spec. (a) a tuberculous arthritis; strumous synovitis of a joint; (b) phlegmasia alba dolens (see PHLEGMASIA), milk-leg, white-leg.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 122. May no sugre ne swete þynge asswage ny swellynge.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xxviii. 6. Thei gessiden him to be turned into swellinge, and sudenly to fallinge, and for to deie.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxviii. (Bodl. MS.). Fulnes blaynes and bladdres swellinges.
14[?]. Langland’s P. Pl., A. VII. 204 (MS. U.). For swellynge of ecore wombes.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 52. If ratling or swelling get once to the throte, Thou loosest thy porkling.
1592. Kyd, Murther I. Brewen, Wks. (1901), 289. A strong deadly poyson whose working was to make speedy haste to the heart, without any swelling of the body, or other signe of outward confection.
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1809), 156. Her shinne, her knee, and her thigh,… and some parts above, tooke swelling.
1702. J. Purcell, Cholick (1714), 15. There is no Swelling, neither does any Pain follow from thence.
1704. Dict. Rust. (1726), Swelling, a disease which Goats are apt to be troubled with, after they have brought forth their Young.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 374. The remedies for white swelling.
1872. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg. (1884), I. 69. When a visible part is inflamed, there are four notable phenomena to be observed, namely:—redness, heat, pain, and swelling.
b. concr. An abnormal or morbid enlargement in or upon any part or member; a tumor.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 8 § 3. Any … outwarde swelling or disease.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 143. The swelling betwixt the two Clewes must be cut.
1650. W. D., trans. Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., § 307. A swelling riseth (swelleth up) and falleth again.
1704. Dict. Rust. (1726), s.v. Swelled, Swellings or Tumours in Horses, come by Heats, by hard Riding or by sore Labour.
c. 1720. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier, I. 28. The Swelling broke.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 399. The white swellings of the joints.
1808. Scott, in Lockhart, Life (1839), I. i. 13. The slightest cold occasioned swellings in her face.
1835. Cycl. Pract. Med., II. 738/1. The swelling may be fixed or moveable.
3. The rising of water above its ordinary level (as of a river in flood); the swell (of the sea); the rise (of the tide); the welling up (of a spring). Obs. or arch.
1557. Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 190. Hie springes may cease from swellyng styll, but neuer dry away.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Jer. xii. 5. What wilt thou do in the swelling of Iorden?
1601. Holland, Pliny, III. v. I. 58. He [sc. the Tiber] hath many and those suddaine swellings.
1754. Fielding, Voy. Lisbon, Wks. 1882, VII. 112. My whole comfort was to find, by the captain’s relation, that the swelling was sometimes much worse.
1764. J. Ferguson, Lect., ii. 27. The swelling of the tide … occasioned by the influence of the moon.
b. concr. A swelling wave, tide, or flood. Obs. or arch.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 231. Þe swellynge of þe see as mylk we schal souke.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Jer. xlix. 19. He shal come vp like a lyon from the swelling of Iorden.
1676. Otway, Don Carlos, III. i. Rock’d on the Swellings of the floating Tide.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VIII. 120. He rowld his River back; and pois’d he stood; A gentle Swelling, and a peaceful Flood.
1781. Cowper, Retirem., 527. He swathes about the swelling of the deep.
1905. J. B. Bury, Life St. Patrick, vii. 134. He first crossed over a river-swelling, and then found a second swelling in front of him.
4. Of sound: see SWELL v. 6; cf. SWELL sb. 5.
1818. Keats, Endym., I. 117. A faint breath of music … Within a little space again it gave Its airy swellings, with a gentle wave.
5. fig. Inflation by pride, vanity, etc.; proud, haughty, or indignant feeling; also, proud or arrogant behavior or talk, swagger. Obs. or arch.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 324. Swellynge of herte is whan a man reioyseth hym of harm that he hath doon.
c. 1410. Lanterne of Liȝt, iii. 6. Euery proud soule þat risiþ in swelling aȝens his God.
c. 1425. Cursor M., 12083 (Trin.). Þourȝe swellyng of his herte To Ioseph spake he wordis smerte.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Cor. xii. 20. I feare … lest there be among you, debates, envyenges, wrathes, stryuynges, bacbytinges, whysperinges, swellinges, vproures.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., Wks. 1904, II. 83. From the rich to the poore (in euery street in London) there is ambition, or swelling aboue theyr states.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Truth (Arb.), 501. So alwaies, that this prospect, be with Pitty, and not with Swelling, or Pride.
a. 1639. Wotton, Portraict. Chas. I., in Reliq. (1685), 156. In your aspect no swelling, nothing boysterous.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 40, ¶ 5. Their Swelling and Blustring upon the Stage very much recommends them to the fair Part of their Audience.
1756. Burke, Subl. & Beaut., I. xvii. A sort of swelling and triumph, that is extremely grateful to the human mind.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxv. Thus the proud swelling of his heart further suggested.
6. The rising of emotion.
1709. Tatler, No. 114, ¶ 1. My heart was torn in pieces to see the Husband … suppressing and keeping down the swellings of his grief.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 29, ¶ 9. To repress the swellings of vain hope.
