a. rare. [f. prec. + -ey, -Y.] Somewhat intoxicated; tipsy.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxviii. ‘He ain’t ill. He’s only a little swipey you know.’ Mr. Bailey reeled in his boots, to express intoxication. Ibid. (1865), Mut. Fr., II. x. A muddling and a swipey old child.
