Naut. [Owing to the scantiness and the chronological discrepancy of the early evidence, the mutual relation and immediate source of this word, SWIFT sb.1, and SWIFTER, cannot be clearly ascertained. They are presumably of Scand. or LG. origin: cf. ON. svipta to reef, sviptingar, -ingr, -ungr reefing-ropes, Du. zwichten to take in (sails), roll up (ropes), zwichtings, zwichtlijnen cat-harpings, WFris. swicht partly or completely furled sail, G. schwigten to snake two ropes together, schwigting, schwigtleine snake-line, Da. svigte to take in (sail): prob. allied ultimately to SWIFT a.] trans. To tighten or make fast by means of a rope or ropes drawn taut; e.g., the rigging or masts, the capstan-bars, or a boat or ship by passing a rope round the gunwale, or round the bottom and upperworks, to prevent strain. Cf. SWIFTER sb.
1485. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 47. Swyftyng takles … xj. Ibid. (1487), 62. Swiftyng takles … viij. Ibid. (1495), 275. The pollankers and Swifting takles of the foremaste.
a. 1625. Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301), Swifteing. When wee bring Shipps agrounde, or Careene them, wee vse to Swift the Masts, to ease them and strengthen [them], wch is done in this manner: they Lash fast all the Pendants of the Swifters, and Tackles, wth a Roape, close to the Mast, as neare their Blocks as they cann.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Swifting the Capstan-Bars, is straining a Rope all round the outer ends of the Capstan-Bars, in order to strengthen them, and make them bear all alike, and together, when the Men heave or work there.
1799. Hull Advertiser, 19 Oct., 2/1. One ship’s main-mast, one fore-mast, and one mizen-mast, all swifted together, which were towing at the stern of the brig.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxv. We were obliged to go aloft upon the ropes and shearpoles with which the rigging was swifted in.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., The rigging is … swifted down preparatory to replacing the ratlines truly horizontal after setting up.
1883. Man. Seamanship for Boys, 200. Q. What do you mean by rigging the capstan? A. The bars being shipped, pinned, and swifted in place.
