Obs. Forms: 3–4 swippe, 4–5 swyppe, (5 squyppe), 7 swip; pa. t. 3 swipte, suipte, 4 swypped, swypte, 7 swipt; pa. pple. 3 i-swipt. [ME. swippen, pa. t. swipte, pointing to OE. *swippan, by the side of *swipian (recorded only in 3rd pres. ind. sweopaþ, and doubtfully in pa. t. swipode); f. swip-, represented also by OE. swipu, swipe scourge, ON. svipa whip (see SWEPE), svipr sudden sweeping movement, glimpse, fleeting appearance, svipa to swoop, flash, refl. to glance after or at, OHG. swipfen to move quickly in a curve, MG. -swif (gen. -swiffes) quick turning, in nider-, ummeswif; related to swaip- (see SWOPE v.1).]
1. trans. To strike, hit, smite. (Cf. SWAP v.1, 1 b.)
c. 1205. Lay., 878. Ich wulle mid swerde his heued of swippen. Ibid., 16518. [He] mid muchelere strengðe hinc adun swipe.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2452. He … hef þet hatele sweord up, & swipte hire of þet heaued.
b. To wield (a weapon) forcibly, esp. in a downward direction.
c. 1205. Lay., 23978. Arður … his sweord Caliburne swipte mid maine. Ibid. (c. 1275), 16510. [He] heȝe hefde his sweorde and hit adun swipte.
c. intr. To deal a blow at. rare.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 201. Cristis disciplis … liȝten on þe corner stoon … and þanne fendis of helle dreden hem to swippen at hem.
2. intr. To move with haste or violence; to make a dash; to slip away, escape. (Cf. SWAP v. 4.)
c. 1205. Lay., 28956. Þer weoren twenti and æhte of eorlene streone Suipten from londe seouen hundred scipene.
a. 1225. Ancr. R. 252. Ine swifte wateres … þe þet is isundred, he is sone iswipt forð.
c. 1275. Lay., 27627. Ridwalþan his sweord droh and swipte to þan kinge.
13[?]. S. E. Leg. (MS. Bodl. 779), in Herrig’s Archiv, LXXXII. 309/148. Moyses hadde a ȝerd, & to þe ground it cast: anon it worþ an addre & gan to swype fast.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1253. Alle þat swypped vnswolȝed of þe sworde kene.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2196. When þe saul fra þe body swippes.
fig. a. 1500. Bernardus de cura rei fam., etc. (E.E.T.S.), iii. 214. Þow swerys wonder Swyftly, & Swyppe may it euer.
Hence † Swipping vbl. sb., striking; ppl. a., moving quickly.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 55 (Ireland MS.). The squyppand watur, that squytherly [read squyperly] squoes.
a. 1450. [see SWIPPLE 2].
