sb. Naut. [See SWIFT v.1] A rope used for swifting (see SWIFT v.1). a. One of a pair of shrouds, fixed above the other shrouds, for swifting or stiffening a mast. b. A rope passed through holes or notches in the outer ends of the capstan-bars and drawn taut. c. A rope passed around a boat or ship as a protection against strain or collision.
a. 1625. Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301). Swifters … Doe belong to the Maine and fore-mast, and are to succor the Shrowdes, and keepe stiff the Mast, they haue Pendants, wch are made faste vnder the Shrowdes, at the head of the Mast, with a double Block, through wch is reeued the Swifter, wch at the Standing parte hath a single Block with a hooke, which is hitched in a Ring by the Chaine Wale, and soo the fall being hal’d doth helpe to strengthen the Mast.
1627. Capt. J. Smith, Sea. Gram., v. 19. Ouer the heads of those Masts are pendants, for Tackels and Swifters vnder them.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), L 2 b.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xl. ‘Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters,’ cried Jack.
1847. A. C. Key, Narr. Recov. H. M. S. Gorgon, 18. A swifter consisting of three turns of twelve-inch hemp cable, was passed round the ship.
1883. Man. Seamanship for Boys, 200. In each end of the bars [of the capstan] there is a notch; a piece of rope called the swifter is passed round in each notch, and swab-hitched to the end of each bar.
Hence Swifter v. trans. to fasten a swifter to, or tighten with a swifter: = SWIFT v.1
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, I. 198. The shrouds are then swiftered together.
1881. W. Clark Russell, Ocean Free-Lance, II. iv. 170. Not having great confidence in our new hemp, I had the lower rigging swiftered.
