arch. Also 6 Switser, Zuitzer, 7 Swytzer, Switzard, Zwitzer, -ar. See also SWISSER. [ad. MHG. Switzer, Schwytzer, etc. (early mod.G. Schweytzer, now Schweizer), or MDu. Switser, Swytzer (Du. Zwitser); cf. MDa. Svidser, Suitzer, Fris. Sweitser, etc.; f. Switz(en), etc., Switzerland: see SWISS.]
1. = SWISS sb. 1.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, I. viii. 193/1. Wee Switzers saye: Vrteilen oder erteilen oder richten.
1597. Skene, De Verb. Sign., s.v. Menetum, I haue seene the like in the Cuntrie of Helvetia … amangst the Zuitzers.
1624. Capt. J. Smith, Virginia, III. xi. 88. One William Volday, a Zwitzar by birth.
1664. Butler, Hud, II. iii. 1134. A Monster with huge Whiskers, More formidable than a Switzers.
1754. Fielding, Voy. Lisbon, Wks. 1882, VII. 92. The honesty and freedom of the Switzer.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., VI. iii. The mountain-loving Switzer.
1883. American, VII. 186. Born, reared and educated a Switzer.
2. pl. = Swiss guards (SWISS a. 2): rarely sing. Also fig.
1591. Garrard’s Art Warre, 348. But against the Switzers and Launce Knights, the Launce auaileth litle.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 97. King. Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the doore.
1638. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 81. He will never suffer … that a Swytzer shall keep them from entring his base court.
1724. J. Macky, Journ. thro’ Eng., I. ii. 29. A Guard-Hall, where the Switzers, or the Yeomen of the Guards, as they are called here [sc. Windsor Castle], do Duty.
1892. Lounsbury, Stud. Chaucer, III. vii. 193. That literary proletariat of the last century whose members … threatened at one time to develop into an organized band of scribbling Switzers.
3. attrib. or adj. = SWISS a.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, V. ii. 172. A seruant … (who spake the Switzer tong perfectly well).
1818. Scott, Battle Sempach, vii. The Switzer priest has ta’en the field. Ibid. (1829), Anne of G., x. Now thou hast seen us more closely, what thinkest thou of the Switzer youth?
Hence Switzeress, a female Switzer, a Swiss woman or girl. (The allusion in quot. 1719 is doubtful.)
1719. Freethinker, No. 132, ¶ 7. It was impossible he should ever love such a Switzeress as the Queen.
1895. Punch, 28 Sept., 147/3. Simple Switzeresses outside toybooths … all in national costume.
