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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Swink'er, n.p. 1340A laborer; a plowman. [Obs.]
  2. Swipe, n.p. 1340A swape or sweep. See SWEEP.
  3. Swipes, n.p. 1340Poor, weak beer;—often applied in Scotland to a kind of home-brewed beer. Halliwell. Craig.
  4. Swip'le, n.p. 1340That part of a flail which strikes the grain in thrashing; a swingle. [Written also swipel and swipple.]
  5. Swĭp'per, a.p. 1340Nimble; quick. [Obs.]
  6. Swirl, v. t. & i.p. 1340To whirl, or cause to whirl, in an eddy. The river swirled along, glassy no more, but dingy gray with autumn rains and rotting leaves. C. Kingsley.
  7. Swĭrl, n.p. 1340A whirling motion; an eddy, as of water, wind, or snow; a whirl; a gyration. “Fiery swirls of slime.” E. B. Browning. The silent swirl Of bats, that seem to follow in the air Some grand circumference…
  8. Swiss, n.p. 1340The language of Switzerland. 2. (sing. & pl.) (Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Switzerland; a Switzer; the people of Switzerland.
  9. Swiss, a.p. 1340(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Switzerland or its people.
  10. Switch, n.p. 1340A small, flexible twig or rod. On the medal, Mauritania leads a horse by a thread with one hand, and in the other holds a switch. Addison. 2. (Railways.) A movable part of two opposite rails, for…
  11. Swĭtch, v. t.p. 1340To strike with a small twig or rod; to beat; to lash. Chapman. 2. To trim, as a hedge. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. 3. To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch;—generally with…
  12. Switch, v. i.p. 1340To walk with a jerk. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
  13. Switch'el, n.p. 1340A beverage made of molasses and water.
  14. Switch'ing-ēn'/gĭne, n.p. 1340A locomotive for switching cars from one track to another, and making up trains. [U. S.]
  15. Switch'man, n.p. 1340One who tends a switch on a railway. Simmonds.
  16. Swithe, adv.p. 1340Instantly; quickly; speedily; rapidly. [Obs.]
  17. Switz'er, n.p. 1340(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Switzerland; a Swiss.
  18. Swīve, v. t.p. 1340To shake; to agitate. 2. To copulate with, as a woman; to have sexual commerce with; to cover. Chaucer.
  19. Swiv'el, n.p. 1340(Mech.) A piece fixed to a similar piece, or to any body, by a pin, or otherwise, so as to revolve, or turn freely in any direction; a ring, link, or staple, that turns round on a pin or neck.…
  20. Swĭv'el, v. i.p. 1340To turn on a staple, pin, or pivot.
  21. Swiv'el-bridge, n.p. 1340A bridge that turns round on a vertical axis; a swing-bridge.
  22. Swĭv'el-ēy'ed, a.p. 1340Squint-eyed. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
  23. Swĭv'el-hoōk, n.p. 1340A hook that turns in the end of an iron block-strap, for readily taking the turns out of a tackle.
  24. Swiz'zie, v. t.p. 1340To drink; to swill. Halliwell.
  25. Swīz'zle, n.p. 1340Ale and beer mixed. [Prov. Eng.]
  26. Swŏb, n.p. 1340The same as SWAB. See SWAB.
  27. Swōb, v. t.p. 1340The same as SWAB. See SWAB.
  28. Swŏb'ber, n.p. 1340The same as SWABBER, q. v. 2. (pl.) Four privileged cards, only used incidentally in betting at the game of whist. Swift.
  29. Swōllen or Swōln, p. p.p. 1340of swell; — irregular and obsolescent.
  30. Swŏm, imp.p. 1340of swim. [Obs.] See SWIM.
  31. Swōōn, v. i.p. 1340To sink into a fainting fit, in which there is an apparent suspension of the vital functions and mental powers; to faint. The most in years swooned first away for pain. Dryden. He seemed ready to…
  32. Swōon, n.p. 1340A fainting fit; syncope.
  33. Swōōn'ing-ly, adv.p. 1340In a swooning manner.
  34. Swōōp, v. t.p. 1340To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken; a kite swoops up a mouse. 2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep. The physician looks with another eye…
  35. Swŏŏp, v. i.p. 1340To pass with pomp; to sweep. [Obs.] Drayton. 2. To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a hawk; to stoop.
  36. Swŏŏp, n.p. 1340A falling on and seizing, as of a rapacious fowl on his prey. The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop. L’Estrange.
  37. Swŏp, v. t.p. 1340The same as SWAP. See SWAP.
  38. Swōrd, n.p. 1340An offensive weapon, having a long, strong, and usually sharp-pointed blade, either straight and sharp upon both edges, for thrusting, or somewhat curved, and sharp on the convex edge, for cutting at…
  39. Swōrd'-ärm, n.p. 1340The right arm.
  40. Swōrd'-bāy'o-net, n.p. 1340A bayonet shaped somewhat like a sword, and which can be used as a sword.
  41. Swōrd'-beâr'er, n.p. 1340An officer in the city of London, who carries a sword as an emblem of justice before the lord mayor when he goes abroad.
  42. Swōrd'-bĕlt, n.p. 1340A belt by which a sword is suspended and borne by the side.
  43. Swōrd'-blāde, n.p. 1340The blade or cutting part of a sword.
  44. Swōrd'-cāne, n.p. 1340A cane containing a sword.
  45. Swōrd'-cŭt'ler, n.p. 1340A worker in metal who makes swords. Simmonds.
  46. Swōrd'-dȧnçe, n.p. 1340A dance in which swords are held and clashed together by the male dancers. W. Scott.
  47. Swōrd'ed, a.p. 1340Girded with a sword. “The sworded seraphim.” Milton.
  48. Swōrd'er, n.p. 1340One who uses, or fights with, a sword; a swordsman; a soldier; a cut-throat. [Obs.] Shak.
  49. Swōrd'-fīght, n.p. 1340Fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords.
  50. Swōrd'-fish, n.p. 1340(Ichth.) A large fish (Xiphias gladius), allied to the mackerel, and having the upper jaw elongated into a sword-shaped process. It is found in the Atlantic, and its flesh is often eaten.
  51. Swōrd'-grȧss, n.p. 1340(Bot.) A kind of sedge; glader; the sweet rush, a species of Acorus. Ainsworth.
  52. Swōrd'-knŏt, n.p. 1340A ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword.
  53. Swōrd'-law, n.p. 1340Government by the sword, or by force; violence. Milton.
  54. Swōrd'less, a.p. 1340Destitute of a sword.
  55. Swōrd'man, n.p. 1340A swordsman.
  56. Swōrd'-plāy'er, n.p. 1340A fencer; a gladiator; one who exhibits his skill in the use of the sword.
  57. Swōrd'-shāped, a.p. 1341(Bot.) Shaped like a sword; ensiform; as, a sword-shaped leaf. Martyn.
  58. Swōrds'man, n.p. 1341A soldier; a fighting man. Shak. 2. One skilled in the use of the sword; a professor of the science of fencing. Beau. & Fl.
  59. Swōrds'man-ship, n.p. 1341The state of being a swordsman; skill in the use of the sword.
  60. Swōrd'-stick, n.p. 1341A sword-cane. Simmonds.