Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SWANDER, v., n. Also swaunder, swaander; †squander. [′swɑndər]
I. v. To become giddy or faint; to reel about, stagger (Fif. 1825 Jam.; ‡Sh., Ork., Fif. 1972); fig. to hesitate, be uncertain in one's purpose, to dither (Ib.).Fif. 1864 St Andrews Gaz. (17 Sept.):
For a' the ‘spaciousness' o' the futpaith, we baith swandered aff into the cairt-road mair than aince.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 133:
Squanderan' like aen fu i yeul.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 153:
Stumlin, swaanderin, cursin, flytin Laek a body wi a dram.
II. n. A sudden faintness or fit of giddiness, the physical effect of an emergency or surprise; a reeling movement, a stagger, lurch (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Adj. swanderie, dizzy (Fif. 1972).
[Orig. uncertain, phs. a conflation of Swagger and wander.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Swander v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swander>
