Middle English Dictionary Entry
swip(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | swip(e n. Also (early dat.) swipen; pl. (early) swip(p)es, swipen, swupen. |
| Etymology | OE swipu, swypu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. swepe n.(1), swap n.
1.
(a) A whip, scourge; (b) a stroke, blow; (c) swiftness, an onrush.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)30/4 : Drihten..worhte ane swype of rapen, & heo ealle mid gebeate ut ascynde.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)32/14 : Drihten eoda into þan temple & mid swypen þa cypen ut adræfde.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)392/10 : Þe devull come &..dang hym in þe sydes with sharpe spurris & laid on his head with a swip.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)445 : Swype [Hrl 221: Sweype], or swap, or strok: fflagellum [Hrl 221: Alapa].
b
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)239 : Þe weregede gastes..hine uniredlice underfangeð min stiarne swupen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3813 : Nas næuere þe ilke bern..þat of þen ilke sweorde enne swipe [Otho: swip] hefde..þat he nes sone dæd.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8233 : Þa heowen heo mid sweorde; Þa swipen weoren grimme.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10602 : Heo bittere swipen [Otho: swipes] ȝefuen mid axes & mid sweordes.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)14246 : Hii..drowen sweorde longe and smiten on þe healmes..þe swippes were bitere.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15937 : Mid þan formeste swipen [Otho: swipe] her comen þreo hundred scipen.