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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SWEEL, v.², n.² Also sweal; sw(a)yl. [swil, ne.Sc. swəil]

I. v. 1. To wrap (a person) in cloth or clothing, to swathe, swaddle (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Ayr. 1928; Kcb. 1972). Hence sweeler (wm.Sc.), swyler (Bnff., Kcd.), a cloth body belt, a binder, esp. for an infant (Knr. 1825 Jam.; Bnff., Ags., Slg., Fif., wm.Sc., Kcb. 1972). Also fig.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 122:
I hae a ribbon twa ell lang, . . . 'Twas never out of fauld syn she was swyl'd.Gsw. 1793 R. Gray Poems 24:
To lochs and dams ilk youthfu' swain, . . . Weel sweelt in plaids.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 343:
Charity's thick mantle sweel About their failings.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 161:
She has to hae her heid sweeled in flannen.Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch (1935) 49:
Had it been shrouds instead of sweelers.Uls. 1904 Victoria Coll. Mag. 38:
An infant is said to be “sweeled” with a roller.wm.Sc. 1925 D. Mackenzie Macmorro's Luck 25:
A new-born bairnie sweeled i' white.

¶2. To wrap or wind (a garment) round (a person). Vbl.n. sweelin.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 17:
In a tantrum, sweelin' roon' 'er A flinrikin goon o' cramasie.

3. To wrap (a corpse) in a shroud, to put on a winding-sheet. Vbl.n. sweelin.Ags. 1840 G. Webster Ingliston x.:
The puir bit thing, as the neeboor woman that sweelled him telt after-hand.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 221:
To help me wi' the sweelin' if it was needit.

4. To wrap, wind, tie or bind round, in gen. (Uls. 1929).Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 127:
Wi' ae arm about my lass sweel'd.Uls. 1899 S. Macmanus In Chimney Corners 208:
Their fren's would a'most have to sweel some of them with ropes, for feared they'd bust.Uls. 1904 Victoria Coll. Mag. 38:
The piece of leather rolled round the top of a whip is said to be “sweeled”.

II. n. The act of swathing or swaddling; “as much cloth as will go round one's body” (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Ayr. 1928).Ayr. a.1878 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage (1892) 339:
I wrappit her and happit her Wi' carefu' swath an' sweel.