v. Obs. exc. dial. (swidden, swizzen). [a. ON. sviðna to be singed (cf. ON. sviðningr clearing of land made by burning, Da. svidning burning, singeing): see prec.] trans. prec. 1. Also intr. to be singed.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, III. xx. 471. The northeast winde … is sharpe and swithning, verie hurtfull for all sortes of plants.
1690. O. Heywood, Diaries, etc. (1885), IV. 138. The ground being very chapt and grasse exceedingly swithened.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, 72. To Swizzen, to Singe.
1788. W. H. Marshall, Rural Econ. E. Yorksh., Gloss. (E.D.S.), Swidden, to singe, or burn off, as heath, &c.
1817. Willan, W. Riding Words (E.D.S.).
1876. Whitby Gloss., Swidden, Swizzen, or Sizzen, to singe, as flannel too near the fire. Swiddening, scorching.
1892. M. C. F. Morris, Yorkshire Folk-Talk, 112. And a shirt that is scorched at the fire; [they say,] ‘Diz tha see? Lawks a massy! it swizzens!’
