arch. [f. SWINK v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb SWINK; toiling, toil, labor.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 69. Þurh trowþe & þurh swincunge.
1375. in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 130/1. He tauȝte hem … How þeȝ myȝte hem frutes gete Wiþ swet & swynkynge sore.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6703. Whanne her swynkyng is agone, They rede and synge in chirche anone.
a. 1500. Erthe upon Erthe, xiii. 104. That erthe schuld labour the erthe In trowthe and sore swynkynge.
1906. Conan Doyle, Sir Nigel, xiii. Peter the Plowman grow’s weary of swinking in the fields.
† 2. Deep drinking. Obs.
1590. Cobler Canterb., 60. But with swinking at hir will Shee lookt red about the gill.
