Swing

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Swung Archaic imp. Swang p. pr. & vb. n. Swinging. ] [ OE. swingen, AS. swingan to scourge, to fly, to flutter; akin to G. schwingen to winnow, to swingle, oscillate, sich schwingen to leap, to soar, OHG. swingan to throw, to scourge, to soar, Sw. svinga to swing, to whirl, Dan. svinge. Cf. Swagger, Sway, Swinge, Swink. ] 1. To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate. [ 1913 Webster ]

I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in case of exsuction of the air. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sway or move from one side or direction to another; as, the door swung open. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To use a swing; as, a boy swings for exercise or pleasure. See Swing, n., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor; as, a ship swings with the tide. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be hanged. [ Colloq. ] D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

To swing round the circle, to make a complete circuit. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He had swung round the circle of theories and systems in which his age abounded, without finding relief. A. V. G. Allen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Swaying motion from one side or direction to the other; as, some men walk with a swing. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing; especially, an apparatus for recreation by swinging, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached overhead, as to the bough of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom; also, any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Influence of power of a body put in swaying motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ram that batters down the wall,
For the great swing and rudeness of his poise,
They place before his hand that made the engine. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency. “Take thy swing.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Full swing. See under Full. --
Swing beam (Railway Mach.), a crosspiece sustaining the car body, and so suspended from the framing of a truck that it may have an independent lateral motion. --
Swing bridge, a form of drawbridge which swings horizontally, as on a vertical pivot. --
Swing plow, or
Swing plough. (a) A plow without a fore wheel under the beam. (b) A reversible or sidehill plow. --
Swing wheel. (a) The scape-wheel in a clock, which drives the pendulum. (b) The balance of a watch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) [ So named from its swift flight and dark color, which give it an uncanny appearance. ] The European swift. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The sweep of anything in motion; a swinging blow; a swing. [ Obs. ] Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Power; sway; influence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Swinged p. pr. & vb. n. Swingeing ] [ OE. swengen, AS. swengan to shake, causative of swingan. See Swing. ] 1. To beat soundly; to whip; to chastise; to punish. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had swinged him soundly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And swinges his own vices in his son. C. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move as a lash; to lash. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Swinges the scaly horror of his folded tail. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. & n. See Singe. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A swashbuckler; a bully; a roisterer. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Huge; very large. [ Colloq. ] Arbuthnot. Byron. -- Swinge"ing*ly, adv. Dryden. [1913 Webster]