verb. (old literary).—1.  To beat; to thrash; to chastise; to punish (B. E. and GROSE). Hence (Charterhouse) SWINGER (q.v.) = a box on the ears. SWINGEING = a thrashing; SWINGE-BUCKLER (see SWASH).

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  c. 1280.  Havelok the Dane [SKEAT, E.E.T.S. (1868), 214].

        And ofte dede him sore SWINGE,
And with hondes smerte dinge;
So þat þe blod ran of his fleysh,
Þat tendre was, and swiþe neysh.

2

  1579.  The Mariage of Witt and Wisdome.

        O, the passion of God! so I shalbe SWINGED;
  So, my bones shalbe bangd!
The poredge pot is stolne: what, Lob, I say,
  Come away, and be hangd!

3

  1590.  SPENSER, The Fairie Queene, I. xi. 26. The scorching flame sore SWINGED all his face.

4

  1595.  SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, ii. 1. 87. I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you SWINGED me for my love. Ibid. (1596), King John, ii. 1. 288. Saint George that SWINGED the dragon. Ibid. (1598), 2 Henry IV., v. 4. I will have you … soundly SWINGED for this … if you be not SWINGED I’ll forswear half kirtles.

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  1599.  GREENE, George a Greene, 872. War. For once he SWINGDE me till my bones did ake.

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  1607.  The Devil’s Charter [STEEVENS]. When I was a scholar in Padua, faith, then I could have SWINGED A SWORD AND BUCKLER.

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  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Dober. To beat, SWINGE, lamme, bethwacke.

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  1614.  FLETCHER, Wit without Money, iv. 5. Be not too bold; for, if you be, I’ll SWINGE you, I’ll SWINGE you monstrously, without all pity.

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  1621.  SYLVESTER, Du Bartas, i. 6.

        Then often SWINDGING, with his sinnewy train,
Somtimes his sides, somtimes the dusty plain.

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  1637.  DAVENANT, Britannia Triumphans [Dramatists of the Restoration, DAVENANT, ii. 282]. In Gaul he SWINGED the valiant Sir Amadis!

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  1663.  BUTLER, Hudibras, II. ii. 55.

          Whether it be direct infrynging
An oath if I should waive this SWINGING.

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  1711–2.  SWIFT, The Journal to Stella, 16 Jan., xxxix. Walpole, late Secretary of War, is to be SWINGED for bribery.

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  1763.  FOOTE, The Mayor of Garratt, i. Sneak. Now, if you think I could carry my point, I would so SWINGE and leather my lambkin!

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  2.  (venery).—To copulate: see RIDE. Hence SWINGER = a PERFORMER (q.v.).

15

  153[?].  LYNDSAY, Ane Descriptioun of Pedder Coffeis [LAING, I. 159, 17]. Ane SWYNGEOUR coffe, amangis the wyvis.

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  1622.  FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, iii. 1.

          Give her cold jelly,
  To take up her belly,
And once a day SWINGE her again.

17

  1668.  DRYDEN, Enemy’s Love, v. And that baggage, Beatrix, how I would SWINGE her if I had her here.

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