swinge

Etymology

From Middle English swengen (“to strike”), from Old English swenġan (“to dash, strike; to cause to swing”), from Proto-West Germanic *swangwijan, from Proto-Germanic *swangwijaną (“to bump, cause to swing”).

verb

  1. (obsolete) To singe.
  2. (archaic) To move like a lash; to lash.
  3. (archaic) To strike hard.
    1679, Aphra Behn, The Feigned Courtesans, in (The plays of) Aphra Behn, Oxford University press 2000, p.233. →ISBN Sir Feeble: Tis jelousy, the old worm that bites. [To Sir Cautious] Whom is it that you suspect. Sir Cautious: Alas I know not whom to suspect, I would I did; but if you discover him, I would swinge him.
  4. (obsolete) To chastise; to beat.
    O, the passion of God, so I shall be swinged. So, my bones shall be bangedǃ The porridge pot is stolenː what, Lob, say, Come away, and be hangedǃ a. 1575, unknown author, The marriage of Wit and Wisdom

noun

  1. (archaic) A swinging blow.
  2. (obsolete) Power; sway; influence.

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