Chiefly Sc. Obs. Also 4 suelth, swelt, 6 sweltht, swelf, 7 suald. [Representing or related to OE. ʓeswelʓ, swelh or svelgr SWALLOW sb.2]
1. A whirlpool.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxiv. (Pelagia), 181. Men but nombre als haf I Gert synk in-to þe suelth of syne.
c. 1400. Sc. Trojan War (Horstm.), II. 2273. That swelt half of my schippis has Suellede ande all þat in þaime was.
c. 1460. Promp. Parv. (Winch.), 445. Swelth of a water or grownd, vorago.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 1317. Thi schip, that goth apone the stormy vall, Ney of thi careldis in the swelf it fall.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. iii. 42. Thryise thair the fluide quhirlit about round, The sowcand sweltht. Ibid., iv. 73. The ragis of Silla that huge swelth in the se Ȝe haue eschapit.
1601. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 391/2. Passand … be the eist syid of ane arne or aller bus in the lin or suald of Schirestoun.
2. Foul or troubled water.
Prob. due to misapprehension of a passage in G. Douglas.
1563. Mirr. Mag., Induct., xxxi. A deadly gulfe where nought but rubbishe growes, With fowle blacke swelth in thickned lumpes yt lyes. Ibid., lxix. Rude Acheron,… That boyles and bubs vp swelth as blacke as hell.
