swinge

From Middle English swenge (“to strike”), from Old English swengan (“to dash, strike; to cause to swing”).

• Rhymes: -ɪndʒ

swinge (third-person singular simple present swinges, present participle swinging or swingeing, simple past swinged or swonge, past participle swinged or swongen) (forms with o are obsolete)

1. (obsolete) To singe.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

2. (archaic) To move like a lash; to lash.
   • Milton

     Swinges the scaly horror of his folded tail.

3. (archaic) To strike hard.
   • Shakespeare

     I had swinged him soundly.

   • C. Dryden

     And swinges his own vices in his son.

   • Aphra Behn (1640-89) The Feigned Courtesans. This edition: (The plays of) Aphra Behn. Oxford University press 2000. p.233. →ISBN

     Sir Feeble: Tis jelousy, the old worm that bites. [To Sir Cautious] Whom is it that you suspect.

     Sir Cautious: Alas I know not whom to suspect, I would I did; but if you discover him, I would swinge him.

4. (obsolete) To chastise; to beat.
   • The marriage of Wit and Wisdom (1579)

     O, the passion of God, so I shall be swinged.

     So, my bones shall be bangedǃ

     The porridge pot is stolenː what, Lob, say,

     Come away, and be hangedǃ

• swingeing

swinge (plural swinges)

1. (archaic) A swinging blow.
2. (obsolete) Power; sway; influence.

• Winges, sewing, winges