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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Swallow, n. Also: swallowe, swallou, swallo, sual(l)ow, suallou, swellow. [ME and e.m.E. swalu (c1320), swalwe (Chaucer), swalowe (Trevisa), sualowe (Caxton), swallow (a1529), OE swealwe.] A swallow. Freq. in semi-proverbial collocation with Swift adj. 1. c1450-2 Howlat 138 (A).
The trewe turtour … send the letteris in to seir landis With the swallowe [B. suallow] so swyft c1450-2 Howlat 290 (A).
Swallowe a1500 Henr. Fab. 1728 (B).
A sualow … On that hawthorne heich in the crop sittand a1500 Henr. Fab. 1788.
The swallow swyth put furth ane pietuous pyme c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 143/80.
The restles suallow commandit scho … To feche all fowll of small and greit renown 1513 Doug. xii viii 70.
The swallow [Ruddim. swallo] with hir plumys blak … Apon hir weyngis scummand euery syde … Gadderand the small morcellis … To bair hir byrdis chepand in thar nest 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 735.
The swyft swallow, in prattick most prudent, … wald my bledyng stem … With hir moste verteous stone restringityue 1535 Stewart 25232.
His suddant deith, … Throw Albione swyft as ane swallow flew 1549 Compl. 39/19.
The iargolyne of the suallow gart the iay iangil 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 155.
Then be the way me haistalie thar metis My companions swift as ony suallowis a1568 Bann. MS 266b/33.
Quhen als swyft as swallow beis the snale … Scho quhome I luve sall steidfast be and trew a1649 Drummond II 259/50.
Nou Ceres tuise hath cut her yellow lockes, The swellow tuise the spring about hath brocht 1662 Crim. Trials III 608.
Quhen my husband sold beeff, I used to put a swellowes feather in the hyd of the beast, and [say thryse] [etc.]

b. As the name of a ship. 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 481.
To the maister of the Swallow

c. attrib. and comb.Swallow-batche, a flock of swallows. Swallow-tail, an arrow with a broad or barbed head.attrib. 1474 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 100.
De uno crofto vocato Swallou Croft c1578 Reid Swire 105.
The swallow taill from teckles flew Fyve hundreth slain into flightcomb. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 28b.
Quhat is war to keip than ane swallow batche; Now excepe wemen na thing can I finde