*swi*

adv. Diagonally laid, as tiles; ridgewise. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a state of swinging. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of numerous predaceous aquatic insects of the family Notonectidae (such as Notonecta undulata) that swim on their backs and may inflict painful bites; -- also called boat bug. [ RHUD ] [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. The second crust formed in port and some other wines after long keeping. It consists of pure, shining scales of tartar, supposed to resemble the wing of a bee. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ AS. beswīcan; be- + swīcan to deceive, entice; akin to OS. swīkan, OHG. swīhhan, Icel. svīkja. ] To lure; to cheat. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Japan black. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ G. Braunschweiger grün, first made at Brunswick, in Germany. ] An oxychloride of copper, used as a green pigment; also, a carbonate of copper similarly employed. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the form of a cross; across; transversely. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Deprived of wits or understanding; distracted. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of fess. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) 1. Swimming in the open sea; -- said of certain marine animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zoology) able to swim about; not attached to a stationary object; -- of aquatic animals. [ wns=1 ]
Syn. -- unattached. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OE. huswif; hus house + wif wife. Cf. Hussy a housewife, Housewife. ] [ Written also housewife. ] 1. A female housekeeper; a woman who manages domestic affairs; a thirfty woman. “The bounteous huswife Nature.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The huswife is she that do labor doth fall. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A worthless woman; a hussy. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ See Hussy a bag. ] A case for sewing materials. See Housewife. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To manage with frugality; -- said of a woman. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a huswife; capable; economical; prudent. -- adv. In a huswifely manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The business of a housewife; female domestic economy and skill. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) A switch consisting of one or more knifelike pieces hinged at one end and making contact near the other with flat gripping springs. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Railroads) A switch made up of a rail from each track, both rails being tapered far back and connected to throw alongside the through rail of either track. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Railroading) same as Point switch. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ See Such. ] Such. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Swich things as that I know I will declare. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. Named after Gerard Van Sweiten, physician to Maria Theresa of Austria. ] (Bot.) A genus of meliaceous trees consisting of one species (Sweitenia Mahogoni), the mahogany tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Swifter superl. Swiftest. ] [ AS. swift; akin to swāpan to sweep, swipu a whip; cf. swīfan to move quickly, to revolve. See Swoop, v. i., and cf. Swivel, Squib. ] 1. Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt. [ 1913 Webster ]

My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James i. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swift of dispatch and easy of access. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

And bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Pet. ii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of short continuance; passing away quickly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Swift is often used in the formation of compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, swift-darting, swift-footed, swift-winged, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Quick; fleet; speedy; rapid; expeditious. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Swiftly. [ Obs. or Poetic ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ply swift and strong the oar. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The current of a stream. [ R. ] Walton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common European swift (Cypselus apus syn. Micropus apus) nests in church steeples and under the tiles of roofs, and is noted for its rapid flight and shrill screams. It is called also black martin, black swift, hawk swallow, devil bird, swingdevil, screech martin, and shriek owl. The common American, or chimney, swift (Chaetura pelagica) has sharp rigid tips to the tail feathers. It attaches its nest to the inner walls of chimneys, and is called also chimney swallow. The Australian swift (Chaetura caudacuta) also has sharp naked tips to the tail quills. The European Alpine swift (Cypselus melba) is whitish beneath, with a white band across the breast. The common Indian swift is Cypselus affinis. See also Palm swift, under Palm, and Tree swift, under Tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. [ Cf. Swivel. ] A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Swivel. ] (Naut.) (a) A rope used to retain the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it. (b) A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally, to strengthen and defend her sides. (c) The forward shroud of a lower mast. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Naut.) To tighten, as slack standing rigging, by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Nimble; fleet. Mir. for Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The courser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small East Indian and Asiatic swifts of the genus Collocalia. Some of the species are noted for furnishing the edible bird's nest. See Illust. under Edible. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a swift manner; with quick motion or velocity; fleetly. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being swift; speed; quickness; celerity; velocity; rapidity; as, the swiftness of a bird; the swiftness of a stream; swiftness of descent in a falling body; swiftness of thought, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. D. zwelgen to swallow, E. swallow, v.t. ] 1. To drink in long draughts; to gulp; as, to swig cider. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To suck. [ Obs. or Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The lambkins swig the teat. Creech. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A long draught. [ Colloq. ] Marryat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) A tackle with ropes which are not parallel. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A beverage consisting of warm beer flavored with spices, lemon, etc. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. Prov. E. swig to leak out, AS. swījian to be silent, swīcan to evade, escape. ] 1. To castrate, as a ram, by binding the testicles tightly with a string, so that they mortify and slough off. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) To pull upon (a tackle) by throwing the weight of the body upon the fall between the block and a cleat. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Swilled p. pr. & vb. n. Swilling. ] [ OE. swilen to wash, AS. swilian. ] 1. To wash; to drench. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swilled with the wild and wasteful ocean. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Properly, to drink like a pig. See Swill, n. ] To drink in great draughts; to swallow greedily. [ 1913 Webster ]

Well-dressed people, of both sexes, . . . devouring sliced beef, and swilling pork, and punch, and cider. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To inebriate; to fill with drink. [ 1913 Webster ]

I should be loth
To meet the rudeness and swilled insolence
Of such late wassailers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To drink greedily or swinishly; to drink to excess. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The wash, or mixture of liquid substances, given to swine; hogwash; -- called also swillings. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Large draughts of liquor; drink taken in excessive quantities. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who swills. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. See Swill, n., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. Swam r Swum p. p. Swum; p. pr. & vb. n. Swimming. ] [ AS. swimman; akin to D. zwemmen, OHG. swimman, G. schwimmen, Icel. svimma, Dan. swömme, Sw. simma. Cf. Sound an air bladder, a strait. ] 1. To be supported by water or other fluid; not to sink; to float; as, any substance will swim, whose specific gravity is less than that of the fluid in which it is immersed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move progressively in water by means of strokes with the hands and feet, or the fins or the tail. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be overflowed or drenched. Ps. vi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sudden the ditches swell, the meadows swim. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fig.: To be as if borne or floating in a fluid. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] now swim in joy. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be filled with swimming animals. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Streams ] that swim full of small fishes. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To pass or move over or on by swimming; as, to swim a stream. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause or compel to swim; to make to float; as, to swim a horse across a river. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To immerse in water that the lighter parts may float; as, to swim wheat in order to select seed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of swimming; a gliding motion, like that of one swimming. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The sound, or air bladder, of a fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A part of a stream much frequented by fish. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Swim bladder, an air bladder of a fish. --
To be in the swim, to be in a favored position; to be associated with others in active affairs. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ OE. swime dizziness, vertigo, AS. swīma; akin to D. zwijm, Icel. svimi dizziness, svina to subside, svīa to abate, G. schwindel dizziness, schwinden to disappear, to dwindle, OHG. swīnan to dwindle. Cf. Squemish, Swindler. ] To be dizzy; to have an unsteady or reeling sensation; as, the head swims. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] A moaning or sighing sound or noise; a sough. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who swims. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Far.) A protuberance on the leg of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) A swimming bird; one of the natatores. [ 1913 Webster ]

Little swimmer (Zool.), a phalarope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of a series of flat, fringed, and usually bilobed, appendages, of which several pairs occur on the abdominal somites of many crustaceans. They are used as fins in swimming. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. That swims; capable of swimming; adapted to, or used in, swimming; as, a swimming bird; a swimming motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Suffused with moisture; as, swimming eyes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swimming bell (Zool.), a nectocalyx. See Illust. under Siphonophora. --
Swimming crab (Zool.), any one of numerous species of marine crabs, as those of the family Protunidae, which have some of the joints of one or more pairs of legs flattened so as to serve as fins. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of one who swims. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Swim to be dizzy. ] Being in a state of vertigo or dizziness; as, a swimming brain. [ 1913 Webster ]