Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HAWKIN AND SWAPPIN, adj.phr. Also, by assimilation to hawk, — swaukin (Lth.).
1. Struggling against financial difficulties by borrowing from one to pay another (Lth., Rxb. 1825 Jam.); 2. irresolute, hesitating, wavering (Lth. 1825 Jam.); 3. in an indifferent state, neither one thing nor the other (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinstone Propriety II. 199, — swauking), specif. of health (Lth. 1825 Jam.).
[Eng. hawk, to peddle, + swap, to barter, exchange.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hawkin And Swappin adj. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hawkin_and_swappin>
