Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 swynge, 6–7 swindge. [Related to SWINGE v.1]
† 1. Sway, power, rule, authority, influence: esp. to have or bear swinge, the (full, whole, chief) or all the swinge, etc. Obs.
1531. Tindale, Expos. 1 John v. 21 (1538), 83. Yf in .x. paryshes rounde ther be not one learned and discrete to helpe the other, then the deuell hath a greate swynge amonge vs, that the byshops officers that dwel so farre of, must abuse vs as they do.
1536. Rem. Sedition, 16. The euyl be mo in nombre, they bere the swynge.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 151. She bare the whole swynge, as the strong oxe doth, when he is yoked in the plough with a pore silly asse.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xxxvii. (1887), 150. An oligarchie: where some few beare all the swinge.
1585. Fetherstone, trans. Calvin on Acts iv. 33. The Sadduces … did then beare the chiefe swindge.
1601. J. Wheeler, Treat. Comm., 37. The Antwerpians … in all the Marts, & Faires in Dutchland, bare the chiefest swindge.
1612. Chapman, Rev. Bussy D’Ambois, I. i. When Glory, Flatterie, and smooth applauses of things ill Vphold th’ inordinate swindge of downe-right power.
1629. Massinger, Picture, II. ii. (1630), E 2 b. What wise man … But must confesse that fortunes swinge is more Ore that profession, then all kinds else Of life pursu’d by man? Ibid. (1636), Gt. Dk. Florence, II. ii. This is the man that carries The sway, and swinge of the Court.
† 2. Frecdom of action, free scope, licence; liberty to follow one’s inclinations: = SWING sb.2 5. Phr. to have or take one’s swinge, to give (a person or thing, oneself) swinge. Obs.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xvi. (1870), 273. Sensuall appetyde muste haue a swynge, all these thinges notwithstandynge.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 52. Shooting hath two Tutours … the one called Daye light, ye other Open place, whyche .ii. keepe shooting from euyl companye, and suffers it not to haue to much swinge.
1575–85. Sandys, Serm., viii. § 10. Youth they say must haue his swinge.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 272. They giue the full swindge to their bold and violent affections.
1598. Chapman, Iliad, V. [IX.] 617. For whose sake I will lose the raynes, and giue mine anger swindge. Ibid. (1615), Odyss., XXII. 597. That then-streight bed Is sowre to that swindge, in which she was bred.
1622. Fletcher, Span. Cur., V. ii. I’le have my swindge upon thee.
1631. Chapman, Cæsar & Pompey, II. i. 12. I had able means, And spent all in the swinge of lewd affections.
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., III. xxiii. (1713), 233. By preferring the full swindge of the Animal life before the orderly Pleasures … of the Divine.
1675. Crowne, Country Wit, I. i. I am perswaded the bounds of his land have been the utmost extent of his travel; except since his Parents death he has given himself a swinge to some race or fair.
1687. trans. Sallust (1692), 8. A savage sort of People, living at their full swinge of Liberty and Licence.
† b. Of, at one’s own swinge: said of a person being entirely his own master. Obs.
1536. St. Papers Hen. VIII., II. 322. That he shulde rule of his owne swynge, so as noon of us durste advise him to the contrary.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 290. In his lustie yeares, he is at his own swinge.
[1663. Heath, Flagellum, 4. His Father dying soon after and leaving him to his swinge.]
† 3. Impetus, impulse, driving power (of something non-physical, as passion, will, etc.); inclination; drift, tendency. Of one’s own swinge: of one’s own free choice, of one’s own accord, spontaneously. Obs.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 36. They of their awne swynge pacefied them selfes, and beganne to turne to their … naturall liege lorde.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasmus Par. Matt. iii. 28. He rushed not furth of his owne swinge to preache.
1552. R. Hutchinson, Declar. Christes Supper, iii. (1560), K j b. As long as they folowe the wyld swynge of their youth.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Christian’s Conflict, 87. The swinge of custome (whirl-wind-like) Rapting my Passion.
1621. Hakewill, David’s Vow, 105. He goes on with an high hand and a stiffe neck, and is carried with a swinge, as a ship under full saile.
1651. Culpepper, Astrol. Judgem. Dis. (1658), 80. He follows the swinge of the times.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1687), I. xi. 144. Ascribing them to the mere conduct and agency of visible causes, hurried by a necessary swindge.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Coronat. Solyman, 86. The great ones following his example give themselves the liberty to follow the swinge of their own Arbitrary Wills.
1804. Jebb, in Knox & Jebb’s Corr. (1834), I. 95. What greater punishment … can there be, than to be given up, by God, to the swinge of a man’s own lusts?
† 4. Impetus (of motion); impetuous or forcible sweeping or whirling movement. Obs.
1583. H. Howard, Defensative, L iij b. As we see that barges which are forced by the strength of oares, haue a kinde of gate or swinge when the stroke dooth cease.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. 1905, III. 164. In the swindge of his trident he constituted two Lord admirals ouer the whole nauy of England.
a. 1600. Deloney, Canaans Calamitie, 915. The Romaines full of hot reuenge … Troopt to the Temple, with a mighty swinge.
c. 1600. Distracted Emp., IV. i., in Bullen, O. Pl. (1884), III. 235. A thynks me fallinge & avoyds my Swindge.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., To Rdr. a iij b. Whirled on by the swindge and rapt of the one [wheel].
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 247. The swindge or circling motion of the arm in shaking the sistrum.
1696. Alsop, God in Mount, 9. They have been heaving with all their strength to roll it away, and when they have hoped they were just turning it over,… it has come upon them with the greater swinge.
† 5. The lashing (of a tail). Obs. rare.
1627. May, Lucan, I. 225. When his Tailes swindge has made him hot,… He [sc. a lion] roares from his wide throat.
c. 1640. Waller, Battle of Summer-Isl., III. 22.
| The shallow Water doth her Force infringe, | |
| And renders vain her Tayls impetuous swinge. |
b. gen. A stroke, blow. dial.
1823. Moor, Suffolk Words.
6. A leash for hounds. Obs. exc. dial.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Yorks., III. (1662), 221. A Gentleman of this County, being to let slip a brace of Grey-hounds, to run for a great wager, so held them in the Swinge, that they were more likely to strangle themselves then kill the Hare.
1895. E. Angl. Gloss., Swinge, a leash or couple by which hounds are led.
