Obs. Forms: 1 swipu, swipe (suib-, swiop-, suiop-, sweop-, suyppu, swypu), 2–4 swepe, (2 swupe, 4 suepe, 5 swip). [OE. swipu str. fem., swipe wk. fem., corresp. to ON. svipa str. fem., whip, f. weak grade of Teut. swaip-: sweip-: swip-: see SWOPE v.1 and cf. SWAIP, SWAPE.] A scourge, whip.

1

a. 700.  Epinal Gloss., 641. Mastigia, suipan [Erfurt suibae].

2

c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., John ii. 15. Cum fecisset quasi flagellum de funiculis, miððy ʓiworhte swelce swiopa [Ags. Gosp. swipe] of rapun.

3

a. 1000.  Sal. & Sat., 121 (Gr.). Swiðmode sweopan.

4

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 231. Mid gode repples and stiarne swepen. Ibid., 239. Þe weregede gastes þe hine uniredlice underfangeð min stiarne swupen.

5

c. 1200.  Ormin, 15565. Crist himm wrohhte an swepe þær … & draf hemm alle samenn ut.

6

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19355. For þan wit suepes þai þam suang, And scurged sare, þai let þam gang.

7

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxiii. 470. Blo and blody thus am I bett, Swongen with swepys and alle to-swett.

8