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.
Quotation dates: 1804, 1868-1921
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SWIG, v., n. [swɪg]
‡I. v. 1. intr. To go with a swinging motion, to rock, to jog (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1972); to walk or work with speed and energy (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 231); “to turn suddenly” (s.Sc. 1801 J. Leyden Complaynt 375).Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 141:
He through the glen gaed canty swiggin As trim's a bead.Gsw. 1873 A. G. Murdoch Lilts 76:
Roun' an' roun' the wheel o' life Gangs swiggin' thro' the year.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. i.:
Fan they war a'-yoke, Charlie in the fur an' Sallie on the lan', they swigget on fine.
2. tr. To carry along at speed, to whirl, whisk.Ags. 1921 V. Jacob Bonnie Joann 15:
There's him noo wi' his neb to the sky I' yon deil's machinery swiggit by.
3. To beat, drub, thrash.wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan 381:
Sic an arm o' vigour, Nan might scold an' ban, But brawly could he swigg her.
II. n. 1. A quick, swinging motion, a whisk, flick, wag.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 57:
Keeping time with the swig of her gown.
2. Mien, manner, = Swap, n.2 (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 231). Phs. a different word.
[Prob. of Scand. orig. Cf. Norw. dial. sviga, to swing, work quickly, beat, a pliant twig, sveiga, to walk with a swing. See Swag, v.1]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Swig v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swig>
