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.
†SWELT, v.1, n. Also swalt, swalky-. [swɛlt]
I. v. 1. To become faint with weakness or emotion, to be physically overcome, to swoon (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ork. 1929 Marw., swalt); to be stifled with heat, swelter (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. Gl.). Obs. in Eng. exc. dial.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 93:
Wi' faut an' heat I just was like to swelt.Hdg. 1790 J. Mylne Poems 39:
Ye're like to swelt? — I'm sure wer't me, 'Twad turn my brain!Sc. 1836 M. Mackintosh Cottager's Daughter 99:
She sweltit at their feet.
2. To go without food, to be famished, to starve (Ork. 1929 Marw., swalt, “swalkyan wi hunger”). Ppl.adj. sweltin, swalten, hungry, lean, emaciated, esp. of a cod (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., sweltin-cod), hence also as a n., a cod in poor condition (Sh. 1814 Irvine MSS., swalten, 1908 Jak. (1928), sweltin), and transf. of children.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Sweltins o' bairns, eatin' for ever.Kcd. a.1914 Mearns Leader (23 June 1950):
Scotch codlins oor burden . . . Fient a sweltin' amang them — a' fit for the pan.
II. n. A poor-conditioned lean cod (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). See 2. above.
[O.Sc. swelt, to die, 1375, to faint, a.1475, Mid.Eng. swelt, id., O.E. sweltan, to die, O.N., Norw. dial. svelta, to die, esp. of hunger, to starve. The form swalkyan is due to confusion with Swelt, v.2, q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Swelt v.1, n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swelt_v1_n>
