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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.

Swidder, -ir, Swydder, Swither, v. [? OE (ᵹe)-sweðrian, -swiðrian to (cause to) abate, subside, dwindle, fail. Also in the later dial.] a. Of a person: To falter, hesitate. Chiefly transf. of the heart. b. Of a place: To shake, quiver.a. (1) 1535 Stewart 21808.
The buglis blastis maid sic ane busteous beir, … As hevin and erth that tyme had gane togidder, Quhilk causit mony for to sueit and swidder
(2) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1780.
Ane garitour … Proclamand loud that did thair hartis swidder [L. swiddir] Out on falsheid [etc.]
a1568 Bann. MS 134b/68.
With that his hairt begowd to swidder
1570 Sat. P. xx 56.
Lat na mans feid, throw feirfull dreid, Ȝour hartis mak to swidder
1600-1610 Melvill 441.
They … perceaving that the breithring's hartes … began to … swidder, for the best part thought it meittest to tak tyme to mollefie and moyen maters
(b) a1651 Calderwood V 701.
Swither
b. 1535 Stewart 6684.
Tha swapit ouir quhill all the swyir did swydder As hevin and erd that tyme had gane togidder

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"Swidder v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/swidder_v>

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