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: 1864-1880, 1952
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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 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swander>
