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 1598. Shakspeare, All's Well, iv. 3. 286. Drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk.

Swing, subs. (colloquial).—Bent; a free 'hand' or course: e.g. to have (or take) one's swing (or full swing) = to do as one likes. Also to swing (a matter) over one's head, shoulders, etc. = to manage easily; to swing a business (market, prices, etc.) = to control; to manage.

1530. Tyndale, Works [Parker Soc.], i. 530. The sect [of heretics] goeth now in her full swing. Ibid., ii. 219. The devil hath a great swing among us.

1542. Hall, Henry VIII., f. 5. And there for a certayne space loytred and lurked with Sir Thomas Broughton knyght, whiche in those quarters bare great swynge, and was there in great aucthoritie.

1502. Harvey, Four Letters. Let them have their swing that affect to be terribly singular.

1610. Sackville, Ind. Mirr. Mag., 260. That whilom here bare swinge among the best.

1620. Fletcher, Little Fr. Lawyer, ii. 3. Take your whole swing of anger; I'll bear all with content.

1622. Dent, Pathway, 58. If they will needs follow their lustes, their pleasures, and their owne swinge, yet in the end, he will bring them to judgement.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, ii. 3. The fellow will have his swing though he hang for't.

1805. Godwin, Fleetwood, vii. To thrust the world aside and take his swing of indulgence.

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 267. It was my full determination to take my swing about town, and look at men and manners a little.

1837. Lytton, Maltravers, iv. ix. Your time is up you have had your swing.

1877-85. Dixon, Hist. Ch. of England, ii. Sacrilege was in full swing.

1881. J. C. Shairp, Aspects of Poetry, 132. In the great chorus of song with which England greeted the dawn of this century individuality had full swing.

Verb. (common).—1. To hang; see Ladder. Hence, the swing = the gallows: see Nubbing Cheat (Grose).

1542. Udall, Erasmus [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 486.] 'Among the verbs are to gossip swing in a halter, take his heels,' etc.

1801. Poetry of Anti-Jacobin (4th ed.), 7. For this act Did Brownrigg swing. Harsh laws! But time shall come When France shall reign, and laws be all repeal'd.

1836. Dickens, Boz. 'Drunkard's Death.' If I'm caught, I shall swing; that's certain.

1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg., i. 229. And now they tried the deed to hide; For a little bird whispered, 'Perchance, you may swing.' Ibid. 'The Execution.' But to see a man swing At the end of a string, With his neck in a noose, will be quite a new thing.

1887. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, iv. And is he thundering well corpsed? Then, damme, I don't mind swinging.

To swing the monkey, verb. phr. (nautical).—See quot.

1883. Clark Russell, Sailors Language, s.v. Swing the monkey striking with knotted handkerchiefs a man who swings to a rope made fast aloft. The person the ' monkey' strikes whilst swinging takes his place.

Swinge, verb. (old literary).—1. To beat; to thrash; to chastise; to punish (B. E. and Grose). Hence (Charterhouse) swinger (q.v.) = a box on the ears. Swingeing = a thrashing; swinge-buckler (see Swash).

c. 1280. Havelok the Dane [Skeat, E.E.T.S. (1868), 214]. An ofte dede him sore swinge, And wit hondes smerte dinge; So that the blood ran of his fleys, That tendre was, and swithe neys.

1579. Mariage of Witt and Wisdome. O, the passion of God! so I shalbe swinged; So, my bones shalbe bang'd! The poredge pot is stolne: what, Lob, I say, Come away, and be hanged!