dial. [a. ON. sviðra to burn, singe: see SWITHE v. and -ER5. Cf. SWITHEN.]
1. trans. = SWITHE v. 1; also intr. to burn. Hence Swithering ppl. a.2, scorching, parching.
1865. B. Brierley, Irkdale, xv. I. 239. Let it swither away like matchwood.
1886. S. W. Linc. Gloss., Swither, to parch, wither up. It’s such a swithering day. The plants are quite swithered up.
1886. Rochdale Gloss., Swuther, to burst into a flame, as fire which has been smouldering.
1895. Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, xxvi. 196. On that day of swithering heat.
2. intr. = SWITHE v. 2.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Swither, to tingle…. ‘A sair swithering an warking,’ a sore tingling and aching.
