Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

Swarf(f, Swarve, Swerv(e, v. Also: swarth. [? ME and e.m.E. swarf(en (a1225) to depart, (c1330), swerve(n (Gower) to deviate, turn aside, OE sweorfan to file, scour, MDu. swerven to rove, stray, LG swarven to rove, stray, riot, ON sverfa to file, svarfa to (be) upset, agitated, Norw. swerva to whirl, svarva to agitate, f. a Gmc. root appar. meaning ‘agitated, irregular or deflected movement’ (OED). Also in the later dial.] intr.

1. To lose consciousness; to faint, swoon.pres. 1513 Doug. xi xv 116.
All paill and bludles swarthis [Ruddim. swarfis] scho rycht thar, And in the deth closys hir cald eyn 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 760.
I for greiff did swarve 1688 Tryal Philip Standsfield 26.
Some supposing that he would swarff or swoun away(b) 1607 Crim. Trials II 525.
[He] remanit seik … ane yeir and auchtene oulkis, swerving and vaneisching awayp.t. 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 172.
As he was reading it, he swarfed a1650 Row 324.
Mr. Henrie Blyth had such antipathie aganis an ham, that no sooner did he heare a ham spoken of but he swarfed 1660 A. Hay Diary 234.
My wiffe swerfed in the kirk 1697 Fraser P. 17.
She often swarfed

2. ? fig. To shrink from action, ? to turn aside, give way. 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 158.
Cannones slew the men besyde thame; The suddartis swarfit, and said thay wald not sar