Also swypes. slang or colloq. [? f. SWIPE v. (sense 1).] Poor weak beer; small beer; hence, beer in general.
1796. Grose’s Dict. Vulgar T. (ed. 3), Swipes, purser’s swipes; small beer; so termed on board the king’s ships, where it is furnished by the purser.
1812. Murphy, Delany’s Feast, 8. The Rattle-belly vengeance flew about, Swipes, ’tis call’d in common.
1821. Scott, Fam. Lett., 6 April. I am bringing down with me a tankard for swipes.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xxxix. It’s been as dull as swipes.
a. 1845. Hood, Sniffing a Birthday, x. To me it seems this is a day For bread and cheese and swipes.
1895. Meredith, Amazing Marriage, xv. You may get as royally intoxicated on swipes as on choice wine.
