Middle English Dictionary Entry
swalperen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | swalperen v. P. (16th cent.) swalprit; ppl. swalpird. |
| Etymology | Prob. from MDu. swalpen (cp. Flem. dial. zwalperen); but cp. Dan. skvalpe, Swed. skvalpa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To struggle in the water, splash about; (b) ben swalpird, of bodily humors: to be disturbed, be disordered.
Associated quotations
a
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12526 : Oelius Aiax..Was stad in the storme with the stith windes..Hym-seluyn in the sea sonkyn belyue, Swalprit & swam with swyngyng of armys.
b
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)347/5208 : Þat bullynge & rollynge & hurlynge of þe humors in þe body cesys, whylk humors aforhand ware sa swalpyrd & distrubbyld in þe body þat þe uryn myȝt not appere equal.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 Interpol.Rolle Ps.(1) (Trin-C B.5.25) 687/176 : Siþ noon ben so inobedient to Crist ne rebellous aȝens his lawe as ben þoo þat shulden aftir her double ooþ putten hem forþ to þe meynteynyng þerof, þerfore noon bifore hem ne more plenteuously þan þei, shulen drynke þise swalpred dregges.
Note: Editor: "swalpred: the word only occurs here in the commentary. MED swalperen v. suggesting a MDu origin, gives only two instances and no sense that is really appropriate here. The sense is shown by the equivalent in 171 troubled dregges, i.e. here murky and turbulent."
Note: Editor's glossary: "swalpred pa. p. adj. 'murky'."
Note: New sense, ?perh. modify sense (b).