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: 1768-1836, 1908-1914
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†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 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swelt_v1_n>
