Part 1030

2. To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.

Swap, n. [Cf. G. schwapp, n., a slap, swap, schwapp, schwapps, interj., slap! smack! and E. swap, v.t.] 1. A blow; a stroke. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

2. An exchange; a barter. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.

Swap, adv. [See Swap, n.] Hastily. [Prov. Eng.]

Swape (?), n. See Sweep, n., 12.

Sward (?), n. [AS. sweard skin, covering; akin to OFries. swarge, D. zwoord, G. schwarte, Icel. svör&?;r skin, sward of the earth.] 1. Skin; covering. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. The grassy surface of land; that part of the soil which is filled with the roots of grass; turf.

The sward was trim as any garden lawn.

Tennyson.

Sward pork, bacon in large fitches. [Prov. Eng.]

Sward, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Swarded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swarding.] To produce sward upon; to cover, or be covered, with sward. Mortimer.

Sward"-cut`ter (?), n. (a) A plow for turning up grass land. (b) A lawn mower.

Sward"ed, a. Covered with sward. Mrs. Browning.

Sward"y (?), a. Covered with sward or grass.

Sware (?), imp. of Swear. [Obs. or Poetic]

Cophetua sware a royal oath.

Tennyson.

Swarf (?), v. i. [Cf. Swerve.] To grow languid; to faint. [Scot.] "To swarf for very hunger." Sir W. Scott.

Swarf, n. [Cf. Swerve.] The grit worn away from grindstones in grinding cutlery wet. [Prov. Eng.]

Swarm (?), v. i. [Cf. Swerve.] To climb a tree, pole, or the like, by embracing it with the arms and legs alternately. See Shin. [Colloq.]

At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it.

W. Coxe.

Swarm, n. [OE. swarm, AS. swearm; akin to D. zwerm, G. schwarm, OHG. swaram, Icel. svarmr a tumult, Sw. svärm a swarm, Dan. sværm, and G. schwirren to whiz, to buzz, Skr. svar to sound, and perhaps to E. swear. √177. Cf. Swerve, Swirl.] 1. A large number or mass of small animals or insects, especially when in motion. "A deadly swarm of hornets." Milton.

2. Especially, a great number of honeybees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings under the direction of a queen; a like body of bees settled permanently in a hive. "A swarm of bees." Chaucer.

3. Hence, any great number or multitude, as of people in motion, or sometimes of inanimate objects; as, a swarm of meteorites.

Those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves in every part of it [Italy].

Addison.

Syn. -- Multitude; crowd; throng.