Swing | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Swing, v. i.

verbintransitive

[imp. & p. p. SWUNG; p. pr. & vb. n. SWINGING. (SWANG, the old imp., is obsolete.)] [A-S. swingan, swengam, O. H. Ger. swingan, L. Ger. swingen, N. H. Ger. schwingen, Sw. swinga, svänga, Dan. svinge.]

Sense 1. To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate.

I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in our receiver if exhausted. Boyle.

Sense 2. To practice swinging; as, a man swings for health or pleasure.

Sense 3. (Naut.) (a.) To move or float. (b.) To turn round an anchor; as, a ship swings with the tide.

Sense 4. To be hanged. [Colloq.] D. Webster.

Swing, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To make to play loosely; to cause to swing, wave, or vibrate, as a body suspended in the air. They get on ropes, ... and are swung by their men visitants. Spectator. 2. To wave; to move to and fro; to flourish; to brandish; as, a man swings his arms when he walks. He swings his tail, and swiftly turns him round. Dryden.

Swing, n.

noun

The act of swinging; a waving or vibratory motion; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum.
Motion from one side to the other; as, some men walk with a swing.
A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which any thing may swing; especially, an apparatus, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached to a high support, as to the boughs of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom for persons who may swing backward or forward for pleasure or exercise; also, any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise.
Influence or power of a body put in motion.

The ram that batters down the wall. For the great swing and rudeness of his poise. Shak. 5. Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency. “Take thy swing.” Dryden. “To prevent any thing which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius.” Burke.