Obs. [OE. swęng (cf. OFris. sweng):—*swaŋgwiz, f. staŋgw- (see SWING v.1).] A stroke, blow; also applied widely to various kinds of violent action, e.g., a fall at wrestling, a swing, a military assault.
Beowulf, 1520 (Gr.). Mæʓenræs forʓeaf hildebille, hond swenge ne ofteah.
a. 1000. Elene, 239 (Gr.). Bord oft onfeng … yða swengas.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 80. & ine uondunges to wrastlen stalewardliche aȝein þes deofles swenges.
a. 1225. St. Marher. (1866), 14. Ȝef ha et stonden wulleð mine unwreste wrenches ant mine swikele swenges, wrestlin ha moten ant wiðerin wið ham seoluen.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 797–9. Ȝif tveie men goþ to wraslinge,… An þe on can swenges suþe fele,… An þe oþer ne can sweng but anne. Ibid., 1286. Go so hit go at eche fenge, Þu fallest mid þine ahene swenge.
c. 1290. S. Michael, 173, in S. Eng. Leg., 304. Fram þe hexte stude þat is with one swenge he cam To þe loweste stude. Ibid., 179. A wonder sweng, me þinchez, he made!
c. 1400. Sege Jerus. (E.E.T.S.), 317. Many swykel at þe sweng to þe swerd ȝede. Ibid., 1172. Eleuen hundred þousand Jewes in þe mene whyle Swalten, while þe sweng last by swerd & by hunger.
b. Toil, labor; = SWING sb.1
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 575. Þaȝ þay com late & lyttel wore, & þaȝ her sweng wyth lyttel at-slykez.
