Also 4–5 swyng(e, 6–7 swinge. [In sense 1 app. representing OE. ʓeswing (see also prec. sb.) in comp. hand-, sweordʓeswing stroke with a weapon in fight (otherwise only in phr. ýða ʓeswing impetus of waves; cf. sense 6), f. Teut. swinŋgw- (see SWING v.1), whence also OE. swinge wk. f., stroke with a rod or scourge, corresp. to OFris. swing (also swang, sweng) blow, sprinkling, swinge swingletree, OHG. swingâ swinglestaff, wing, MHG. swinge, G. schwinge winnowing-fan, pl. wings. (Cf. SWENG.) For sense 2, see note there. The other senses are directly from SWING v.1)
I. Abstract senses.
† 1. A stroke with a weapon. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XV. 188. The Mawndwell by his armyng He knew, and roucht him sic a swyng That he till erd ȝeid hastely.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3360. Many swayne with þe swynge has the swette leuede.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1271. With a swinge of his sworde [he] swappit hym in þe fase.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 9018. Odemoun … Toke Menelaus In that swyng And him bare ouer his hors tayl.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 1232. With a swyng of a swerd [he] swappis of hes hede.
† b. In a swing: suddenly. (Cf. F. tout d’un coup.) Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 574. Sic abasing Tuk thame, but mar, in-to a swyng, Thai gaf the bak all, and to-ga.
† 2. To bear the swing: to have full sway or control. Also (to have) swing and sway. Obs.
In this use swing app. arose as a substitute or variant of swinge: see SWINGE sb.1 1.
1552. Latimer, Cert. Godly Serm. (1562), 132 b. At the tyme when the Cardinall was aloft, and beare the swynge [ed. 1584 swyng].
1565. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 370. Sa lang as sum of thame buir the haill swynge with us thame selffis.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem. (1570), 15 b. Whan honest Parmenos shall not be hard, but beare small swing [ed. 1571 swinge] with their masters.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xi. 49. Throw the all Tratoures blythlie sing…. Throw the murther wald beir the swing.
1622. Massinger & Dekker, Virgin Martyr, II. i. D ij b. Shee tooke vs, tis true, from the gallowes, yet I hope she will not barre yeomen sprats to haue their swinge.
1631. Massinger, Emperor East, IV. i. (1632), H 2. That shee might still continue Her absolute sway, and swing ore the whole state.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, The Glance, ii. Had the malicious and ill-meaning harm His swing and sway.
3. The course of a career, practice, period of time, etc., esp. as marked by vigorous action of some kind. Now chiefly in phr. in full swing, in the full swing of …
1570. Foxe, A. & M., I. 1/2. The time of Antichrist, or desolation of the Churche, whose full swinge conteineth the space of 400 years.
a. 1618. W. Bradshaw, Medit. Mans Mortal. (1621), 19. Sleepe is but short…. And as it is but short of it selfe, though it should last the full swinge of nature: so the soundest sleepe, is easily broken.
1680. C. Nesse, Church-Hist., 220. Thinking to take a long swing in sin.
1689. T. R., View Govt. Europe, 31. Puft up and wanton with their new acquisitions and swing of fortune.
1702. Farquhar, Twin Rivals, IV. i. To disturb me thus, just in the swing and stretch of my full Fortune!
1850. Grote, Greece, II. lvii. (1862), V. 119. She [sc. Athens] was in the full swing of hope.
1861. Meredith, Evan Harrington, xlv. A barrister in full swing of practice.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., iv. He had had his full swing of success for two years.
1864. Huxley, in Life (1900), I. xviii. 253. My lectures tire me, from want of practice…. I shall soon get into swing.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, V. iii. It was still early in the herring season, but the fishing was in full swing.
† 4. Impulse; inclination, tendency: = SWINGE sb.1 3. Obs.
1538. St. Papers Hen. VIII., III. 39. The saide Lorde Deputie refused to accepte the same, whiche afterwarde, of his awne swynge … he receyved.
1549. Latimer, 5th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 150. They would haue a Kynge of theyr owne swinge and of theyr owne election.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem. (1570), 14 b. Where the swing goeth, there to follow, fawne, flatter.
a. 1607. Brightman, Bright. Rediv., iii. (1647), 50. Christ did not of his own Swing and Counsell leap into the Office of Reconciliation.
1614. D. Dyke, Myst. Selfe-Deceiuing, 335. If wee can follow the swing and sway of our owne proud, and vaineglorious affections.
a. 1704. Locke, in Ld. King, Life (1830), II. 220. From their cradles some … have been … given up to the conduct and swing of their inconsiderate desires.
a. 1716. South, Serm., 1 Kings xiii. 33–4 (1727), I. 137. Were it not for these, Civil Government were not able to stand before the prevailing Swing of corrupt Nature.
5. Freedom of action, free scope: = SWINGE sb.1 2; esp. in phr. to take, have one’s (full) swing, to allow oneself every freedom, indulge oneself to the full, have one’s fling. (See note under sense 8.)
1584. Lyly, Campaspe, III. ii. 34. Psyllus. How canst thou thus diuine, deuide, define, dispute, and all on the suddaine? Manes. Wit wil haue his swing.
1587. Harrison, England, II. xvi., in Holinshed, I. 199/2. Wherby it appeereth that some sort of youth will oft haue his swinge, although it be in a halter.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., Ded. He had, (according to our homely Saying) his full swing at this Poem, beginning it about the Age of Thirty Five; and scarce concluding it before he arriv’d at Forty.
1698. Farquhar, Love & Bottle, II. iii. The fellow will have his swing, tho he hang for’t.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 503, ¶ 2. This Creature came among us only to give herself Airs, and enjoy her full Swing in being admir’d.
1731. Fielding, Letter-Writers, I. ii. I resolved to take one swing in the charming plains of iniquity.
1808. Scott, Marm., I. xvii. Let the wild falcon soar her swing.
1860. Miss Yonge, Hopes & Fears, I. 244. Trust me that things will adjust themselves all the better for letting them have their swing.
1873. M. Arnold, Lit. & Dogma (1876), 16. The giving free swing to one’s temper and instincts.
1908. S. E. White, Riverman, ix. She was a kindly girl, whose parents gave her free swing.
6. Forcible motion of a body swung or flung. (Also fig.) arch.
1595. Locrine, V. iv. 189. That … she might haue died a death Worse then the swing of old Ixions wheele.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 207. The Ramme that batters downe the wall, For the great swing and rudenesse of his poize [etc.].
1697. Dryden, Æneid, XI. 933. Swelling Surges … Bound o’re the Rocks, incroach upon the Land;… Then backward with a Swing, they take their Way. Ibid., XII. 1335. And rising as he threw, With its full swing the fatal Weapon flew.
1895. Morris, Beowulf, xiv. 30. The dread swing of the waves [orig. atol yða ʓeswing] was washing all mingled With hot blood.
b. Continuous vigorous movement or progress.
1856. H. H. Dixon, Post & Paddock, i. 24. He [sc. a horse] would insist on walking through the brook instead of taking it in his swing.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., xi. The … casual voyager … might have beheld the … eight-oar coming with a steady swing up the last reach.
1865. Morn. Star, 8 July. When the train was getting on the ‘swing’ (attaining a high speed).
c. Full swing (advb. phr.): at full speed; with the utmost vigor or energy.
1848. H. Miller, First Impr. Eng., vii. (1857), 110. He returned full swing to the gratification of the grosser propensities of his nature.
1854. R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., li. Round they go, full swing, every hound throwing his tongue.
1887. Jessopp, Arcady, viii. 236. While the northern mail was coming along full swing through the parish.
7. The act of swinging or waving about a weapon or other body; a movement describing a curve, such as that made in flourishing a weapon, raising the arm or hand to give a blow, etc.
1635. Quarles, Embl., III. xii. 30. The farther off we go, The swing of Iustice deales the mightier blow.
1771. Lonnergan, Fencer’s Guide, 87. By the swing you give, you may find way still for a thrust to enter upon me, if you do not disarm me; but if your wrist is swung too far from the Line, you must spring back to avoid a thrust that may come at you.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 582. He now heats the bulb in the fire,… and by a dexterous swing or two he lengthens it.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, iii. 10. [He] brought his right arm round with a sort of military swing to his forehead.
1876. Tennyson, Harold, V. i. Swaying his two-handed sword about him, Two deaths at every swing.
1887. Field, 19 Feb., 242/2. By ‘swing’ I understand keeping the gun moving with the object for a short time before firing.
1891. H. Herman, His Angel, ii. 31. The woodwork of the car was flying in splinters under the rapid swing of an axe.
1892. Greener, Breech-Loader, 205. Those who shoot with the gun on the swing.
1899. Hutchinson, etc., Bk. Golf, ii. 42. Instantaneous photographs of first-class players taken when at the top of the swing.
1908. T. Burns, Scientific Boxing, ii. 33. The quickest punches are necessarily the straight arm ones. They will always get there quicker than any round arm swing.
8. The act of swinging or oscillating, as a suspended body, or a body turning (to and fro, or in either direction) upon a fixed center or axis, e.g., upon a hinge; an oscillating or swaying movement, oscillation; also, the amount of oscillation, the arc or curve traced or moved through in this way. Also with adv., as swing-to, the act of swinging to.
In quot. 1589 with reference to hanging and play on sense 5, where cf. quots. 1587, 1698.
1589. Nashe, Martins Months Minde, To Rdr. Wks. (Grosart), I. 160. If these men may haue their swaie (but wee hope first they shall haue their swing).
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Necessitie of Hanging, Wks. II. 133/1. One hanging is a necessary thing, Which is a pretty gamball, cald a Swing. [note] A swing or stretch for exercise and health.
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., To give one a great swing, donner à quêcun une grande secousse.
1729. Boyer, Royal Dict., s.v., He may have a Swing, (or be hang’d) for’t.
1775. J. Steele, Ess. Melody Speech, 68. The rhythmical pulsation is regularly periodical and constant as the swings of a pendulum.
1777. Cook, Voy. Pacific, III. ix. (1784), II. 167. They say, that a goddess, having a lump or mass of earth suspended in a cord, gave it a swing, and scattered about pieces of land.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., ii. (1842), 56. A swing of a foot or two in extent should then be given to it, so as to produce centrifugal force.
1853. Dale, trans. Baldeschi’s Ceremonial, 35. He … incenses the Celebrant with three double swings.
1854. R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., xxvii. Charley was speedily at a white gate, whose sound and easy swing denoted an entrance of some pretension.
1867. Morris, Jason, IX. 288. Argo, leaping forward to the swing Of measured oars.
1869. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 443. At first the time is bad, there is not sufficient ‘swing’ or ‘catching at the beginning.’
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, Swing, the arc or curve described by the point of a pick or maundril when being used by a holer or in cutting coal; called the swing of the pick.
1901. G. Douglas, House w. Green Shutters, 289. The sharp swing-to of the door.
a. 1903. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Last Hope, ii. The swing of her tapering masts spoke of the heaving seas she had left behind.
fig. 1877. R. Giffen, Stock Exch. Securities, 153. There is an upward and downward swing, as of a pendulum, in the prices of securities.
1891. Sir R. Ball, Ice Age, 167. At the other end of the swing the summer in the Northern hemisphere will be seven days shorter than the winter in the same hemisphere.
1899. Pall Mall Mag., Jan., 42. Affairs took a swing under me and took me off my balance.
1912. Contemp. Rev., Dec., 835. It is evident that a swing of public opinion has occurred.
b. On the swing: swinging from side to side, oscillating.
1854. R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., xxxviii. His dressing-table was covered with blacks—his looking-glass was on the swing—his soap was reduced to a wafer.
1882. Sala, Amer. Revis. (1885), 166. The … doors were … on the swing.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xiii. (1891), 128. The pace was frightful by this time, the coach on the swing.
c. A form of penance performed by Hindus: see SWING v.1 6 (b).
1852. [Mrs. F. L. Mortimer], Far Off, Hindostan, 103. There is another way of torture quite as painful—it is the swing. Those [Hindoos] who determine to swing, allow the blacksmith to drive hooks into the flesh upon their backs, and hanging by these hooks they swing in the air.
d. The distance that determines the diameter of the work that can be admitted by a lathe.
1875. in Knight, Dict. Mech.
e. A sweeping movement.
1897. Badminton Mag., IV. 386. Presently the hounds took a swing to the left and over the edge of the hill again.
f. The leaning outward from the vehicle of the upper part of a wheel.
1875. in Knight, Dict. Mech.
9. Movement of the body or limbs in a manner suggesting the action of swinging.
1730. Swift, Tom & Dick, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 261. Tom had the genteeler swing, His hat could nicely put on.
a. 1739. Jarvis, 2nd Pt. Quix., II. xiii. (1742), II. 157. Don Quixote, who was not used to alight without having his stirrop held,… threw his body off with a swing.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 191, ¶ 6. One was detected by his gait, and another by the swing of his arms.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 388. An easy swing in my walk.
1901. Daily News, 1 April, 5/7. [In rowing] Their recovery was lively, their swing-forward remarkably steady and well-balanced.
10. A steady vigorons rhythm or movement characterizing a verse or musical composition.
1829. Cunningham, Brit. Paint., I. 171. Distinguished by a vigorous swing of versification.
1879. Church, Spenser, 46. In the Shepherd’s Calendar we have for the first time in the century, the swing, the command, the varied resources of the true poet.
1884. Congregationalist, Feb., 109. The ‘swing’ and ‘go’ … of these popular religious ballads.
II. Concrete senses.
11. A contrivance used for recreation, consisting of a seat which is suspended from above on ropes or rods and on which a person may sit and swing to and fro; also = swing-boat (SWING- 2).
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 45. In the Morning the Streets are full of Swings, adorned with Festoons.
1799. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., III. 325. There once hung my infantine swing between two limes.
1813. Sporting Mag., XLII. 20. There were the usual swings, ups-and-downs, and roundabouts.
1886. Ruskin, Præterita, xii. § 258. I. 428. A post to tie a swing to.
12. † a. A pendulum. Obs.
1696. Derham, Artif. Clock-m., ii. 14.
† b. A noose for hanging, halter. Obs.
1697. Abell, in Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. xxv. I. 126. That he might there make swings above the floor For all his nasty Queans, who’d play’d the Whore.
c. A hawser for making fast a boat.
1834. H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., xii. (1850), 177. The small hawser attached to the stem, known technically as the swing, which he wound securely round a jutting crag.
d. The rope or chain attached to the tongue of a wagon, along which the horses between the leaders and the wheelers are attached, they being said to be in the swing; hence, the horses occupying that position (more fully, swing-pair, -team).
1891. in Cent. Dict.
1907. Morn. Post, 21 May, 9/3. The splendid sextet, Jim and Henry in the wheel, Billy and Phil in the swing, and Mace and Dude in the lead.
1909. Westm. Gaz., 28 May, 9/3. The two wheelers of the team … The swing pair,… and the two leaders.
1909. Cent. Dict., Suppl., Swing-team, in a logging-team of six, the pair between the leaders and the butt team.
e. The outriders who keep a moving herd of cattle in order. Also swing-men, -riders. U.S.
1903. A. Adams, Log Cowboy, iii. 28. Ibid., x. 137. He rode up from his position of third man in the swing.
f. ‘A kind of suspensory cradle or sling for a broken leg’ (Dorland, Med. Dict., 1901).
8. Photogr. = swing-back (SWING- 2).
1878. Abney, Photogr. (1881), 244. On one side of the picture a near object may have to be represented; by using the horizontal swing, it may often be brought into focus.
