Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Swarf(f, Swerf(f, n. Also: swarfe, suarfe, swerf(e, suerf(e, swerve, swairfe. [Swarf(f v. Also in the later dial.]

1. A loss of consciousness, (a state, period or moment of) insensibility; a stupor; fainting fit; swoon; also, an attack or fit leading to unconsciousness. Also to fall (in)to a swarf.(1) c1475 Wall. vii 349.
The Sotheron … Throuch full gluttre in swarff swappyt lik swyn 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 251.
In schort space thaireftir thair came ane swarff owre hir hairt and sic ane flaffing in hir breist as itt had bene sum quick thing, peching and panting, heaving vp hir body 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. ix.
Many to eternize their soone forgot memory … hes prepared pyramides of pomp … As if such superciliosity could sweeten the bitter swarfes of their sowre death 1627 Justiciary Cases I 73.
He strangillit … hir to deid … and laid hir up upone ane bed that the warld sould … suspect … that scho had deceissit of ane suddane swarff 1656 Baillie III 387.
The Protector's death was unexpected … What some speak, of troubles of bodie and mind, and, after a suarfe, the crying out of the Devill [etc.] 1695 Kingarth Par. Rec. 181.
Having fasted long he was overtaken with a swarf that opprest his heart but was not drunk 1698 Fraser P. 30.
Holding aquavitæ and brunt feathers to her nose, because she was then in a swarf(b) a1651 Calderwood VII 186.
Upon Wednisday … he continued so long in a swairfe that the beholders looked not for recoverie(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 225.
With that I seme for to swoune, thought I na swerf [M. suerf] tak c1590 J. Stewart 20/177.
He began redoubling oft alace, Vith sobs and suerfs c1590 J. Stewart 43/14.
The scorching sychs, … Quhilk so vith suerfs oursets his hardie hart 1600-1610 Melvill lviii.
He wes subject to syndrie suerfes and souninges, quhilk he himselff called the foirrunneris of death a1689 Cleland 33.
But gentlemen I crave your pardon, A swerff of love my heart is hard on Still by her features I'm confounded [etc.] 1698 Davidson Rowan Tree 176.
The fits taking her suddenly, and both coming on and going off by a swerff or short deliquium 1704 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World Suppl. liv.
After ane swerve or swoon he cried out [etc.](2) 1638 Johnston Diary I 396.
Margret Mitchel fell in hir suerfes, raptures, and strainge expressions a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 125.
This swoun and swarf, which from joy she falls in 1659 Lamont Diary 118.
The Lady Deuen … fell in a swerffe, and did not recouer 1676 Naphtali (1693) App. 434.
He fell by into a little swarfe through the extremity of pain 1682 Edinb. City Archives Letters II 86.
[He] fell upon David and dashed him to a buird … to that degree David fell in a swerfe

b. With the def. art. as or as if the name of a particular illness. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 317 (H).
The powlings, the palsie … The swerfe and the sweiting, with sounding to swelt 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 152/755.
The souning swerfis

2. A change, a turning aside from a course of action.[Cf. 18th c. Eng. swarve (1741) an act of swerving or turning aside.] 1603 Moysie 75.
The lordis merched out thrie thovsand men … of intentioun to fecht … Word come in the morning that a suerfe had overgone the lordis hairtes, and that theare forces wer dissoluit