Middle English Dictionary Entry
swagen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | swagen v.(1) P.ppl. (?error) swoggid. |
| Etymology | Cp. Norw. dial. svaga to sway, swing, stagger & MnE dial. swag to sway, shake, jostle. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To swing an object; ~ on, hack at (sb.); (b) to swing or shake (sth.); to wag (one's tongue), speak idly with; (c) to fire (a gun).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)68.668 (v.2:p.35) : Whan thre bisshops .. togider were gadrid in a communicacion, oon of hem his tunge to detract gan swage Seynt Ambrose.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7430 : Þe sun of Theseus..choppit to Ector, With a swyng of his sword swagit on þe prinse.
b
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)168a/a : Þe pacient schal be hongid in a bath vpward by þe hondis & þe feet þat þe watir entre not in to þe wombe, & þe bowellis schulen be swoggid [L concutiatur] a litil to and fro and be putt ynne.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)219 : Gunnare, or he þat swagythe a gunne: Petrarius, mangonalius.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1038 : Vyce..gan swage gonnes as he had be woode.