Swallow sb.1. World English Historical Dictionary

Swallow sb.1. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1919, rev. 2024. Swallow sb.1 Forms: 1 s(u)ualu(u)ae, swealwe, swalowe, -uwe, -awe, 1, 4 swalewe, swalwe, swolwe, 4 swalugh, swalu, 4–6 swalow(e, 5 swalue, sualowe, 5–7 swallowe, 6– swallow. [Com. Teut. (not recorded for Gothic): OE. swealwe wk. fem. = OS. suala, MLG. swalewe, swalue, MDu. swâluwe, -ewe (Du. zwaluw), OHG. swalawa, swalwa (MHG. swal(e)we, G. schwalbe), ON. svala for *svǫlva (MSw., Sw. svala, Da. svale):—OTeut. *swalwōn-, the etymological meaning of which is disputed.

1   Continental Germanic dialects have also forms of other types: without w in the final syllable, e.g., MHG. swal, swale, MLG. swale, WFris. sweal, swel; with m-suffix, e.g., HG. (local) schwalm, schwalme, Flem. swaelem; forms with dim. suffix are widespread in LG. and Fris., e.g., MLG. swalike, swal(e)ke, LG. swaalke, Flem. swalcke (Kilian), EFris., NFris. swâlk, WFris. swealtsje, sweltsje.]

2   1.  A bird of the genus Hirundo, esp. H. rustica, a well-known migratory bird with long pointed wings and forked tail, having a swift curving flight and a twittering cry, building mud-nests on buildings, etc., and popularly regarded as a harbinger of summer (cf. c).

3 a. 700.  Epinal Gloss., 498. Hirundo, sualuuae.

4 c. 950.  Guthlac, x. (1909), 143. Þa comon þær sæmninga in twa swalewan fleoʓan, and hi … heora sang upahofon.

5 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 156. Ʒenim swealwan, ʓebærn … to ahsan. Ibid., III. 44. Ʒenim swolwan nest.

6 c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 1366. A swalu ich herd sing.

7 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 64. The swalwe Proigne, with a sorwful lay,… gan make hir weymentinge.

8 1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. xxii. (Bodl. MS.), lf. 122 b/1. In making of nestes þe swalowe is moste sliȝe.

9 a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, lxxx. 102. The dunge of swalues fell into the eyen of this good man Tobie.

10 a. 1529.  Skelton, P. Sparowe, 404. The chattrynge swallow.

11 1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., March, 11. The Swallow peepes out of her nest.

12 1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 119. Daffadils, That come before the Swallow dares.

13 1750.  Gray, Elegy, 18. The swallow twitt’ring from the straw-built shed.

14 1820.  Keats, To Autumn, 33. The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft; And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

15 1876–82.  Newton, Yarrell’s Hist. Brit. Birds, II. 345. The migrations of the Swallow are in a direction nearly due north and south.

16   b.  In allusions to the swift flight of the bird.

17 13[?].  K. Alis., 3775 (Laud MS.). He takes Bulcyphal by þe side, So a swalewe he gynneþ forþ glide.

18 c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 4232. Þat noble stede, þat al so swyftlyche þanne ȝede So swolwe doþ on flyȝt.

19 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, x. 258. Bayarde went not the lityll pase, but went lyke a sualowe.

20 1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. ii. 23. True Hope is swift, and flyes with Swallowes wings.

21   c.  Prov. One swallow does not make a summer (and allusions to it).

22   Cf. Gr. μία χελιδὼν ἔαρ οὐ ποιεῖ.

23 1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 25. It is not one swalowe that bryngeth in somer. It is not one good qualitie that maketh a man good.

24 1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 57. One swalowe maketh not sommer (said I) men saie.

25 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 30. He well remembred that one faire day assureth not a good Sommer, nor one fliyng Swalow prognosticateth not a good yere.

26 1589.  Nashe, Pref. to Greene’s Menaphon, Wks. 1905, III. 323. I would preferre diuine Master Spencer … Neither is he the onely swallow of our Summer.

27 1617.  Moryson, Itin., III. 43. Lest I should seeme by one Swallow to make Summer,… the men of Herefordshire can witnes, that such examples are not rare in England.

28 1636.  Prynne, Rem. agst. Shipmoney, 18. Since in such Taxes commonly, one Swallow makes a kinde of Sommer.

29 1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xvii. Raleigh … disowning … that one day’s fair reception made a favourite, any more than one swallow a summer.

30   2.  In extended sense, any bird of the swallow kind, or of the family Hirundinidæ, e.g., a martin; often misapplied to (and in earlier scientific use including) the swifts, now reckoned as a distinct and unrelated family (Cypselidæ).

31   In OE., stæþswealwe, lit. shore-swallow, meant ‘sand-martin.’ Also, heoruswealwe, lit. sword-swallow, occurs in poetry for ‘hawk.’

32 1758.  Phil. Trans., LI. 464. There are four distinct species of birds, that go under the general name swallow; viz. the swift or black martin; 2. the swallow, that builds in chimneys; 3. the martin, that builds against houses; 4. the sand martin, that builds in sand-banks.

33 1792–5.  J. Aikin & Mrs. Barbauld, Evenings at Home, II. 20. The Martins and other swallows.

34 1867.  T. R. Jones, Nat. Hist. Birds (1872), 51. The extensive race of Swallows and Swifts.

35 1885.  Newton, in Encycl. Brit., XVIII. 47/2. The Hirundinidæ or Swallows.

36   b.  With qualifying words, applied to various species of Hirundinidæ or Cypselidæ; also to birds of other families resembling swallows: as BANK-swallow, BARN-s., CARR-s., CHIMNEY-s., HOUSE-s., SEA-SWALLOW.

37   Cliff Swallow, one of several species of the genus Petrochelidon, nesting in cliffs. Esculent Swallow, a name for the swifts of the genus Collocalia, which construct the ‘edible bird’s nests’ of which soup is made in China. Tree Swallow, (a) an Australian swallow of the genus Hylochelidon, which lays in holes in trees; (b) the N. American white-bellied or white-breasted swallow, Tachycineta (Iridoprocne) bicolor, which nests in trees. † Water Swallow, ? a water-wagtail. Window Swallow, the house-martin, Chelidon urbica. Wood Swallow, (a) = swallow-shrike (see 4); (b) = tree swallow (b). (Several other species are named in Latham’s Gen. Synopsis Birds, 1783, and other ornithological works, Morris’s Austral English, 1898, etc.)

38 1870.  Lowell, Study Wind. (1886), 18. The *cliff-swallow … has come and gone.

39 1783.  Latham, Gen. Synopsis Birds, IV. 578. *Esculent Sw[allow] … the nest … is composed of such materials as not only to be edible, but accounted as one of the greatest dainties of the Asiatic epicures.

40 1813.  [see ESCULENT A. 1 ¶].

41 1873.  Buller, Birds New Zealand, 141. Hylochelidon nigricans. (Australian *Tree-swallow.)

42 1552.  Cooper, Elyot’s Dict., Cinclos … the byrde called a *water swallow, not muche bigger than a larke. Eras. saith … that it is a certaine byrd, so weake and feeble, that she can not make hir owne nest, and so laieth hir egges in other byrdes nestes.

43 1668.  Charleton, Onomast., 108. Cinclus … the long-bill’d wagtail, & Half Snipe, aliis Water-Swallow.

44 1802.  Montagu, Ornith. Dict., I. Swallow,… a genus of perchers … of which we have three species natives: the Bank, the Chimney, and the *Window, Swallow.

45 1817.  T. Forster, Observ. Nat. Hist. Swallowtribe (ed. 6), 6. House Martin, or Window Swallow.

46 1869.  A. R. Wallace, Malay Archip., I. 338. The curious *wood-swallows (Artami), which closely resemble swallows in their habits and flight … twitter from the tree-tops.

47 1887.  [see swallow-shrike in 4].

48 1889.  Lumholtz, Among Cannibals, 28. I shot a young cuckoo … which was fed by four wood-swallows, (Artamus sordidus).

49 1893.  Scribner’s Mag., June, 774/1. The white-breasted or wood-swallow … is called tree-swallow in some regions, because it nests in hollow trees.

50   3.  † a. = SEA-SWALLOW 1. b. Collector’s name for a species of moth: see quot. 1832. c. A variety of domestic pigeon: see quot. 1854.

51 1668.  Charleton, Onomast., 138. Hirundo … the Swallow, or Great headed Flying Fish.

52 1832.  J. Rennie, Butterfl. & M., 34. The Swallow (Leiocampa dictæa) appears the beginning of June and August.

53 1854.  Meall, Moubray’s Poultry, 288. Swallow, distinguished by its ‘plunging or sailing in the air, when flying.’

54 1879.  L. Wright, Pigeon Keeper, 205. Swallows are very pretty and striking birds.

55   4.  attrib. and Comb., as swallow family, -flight (also fig.), kind, people, tribe; swallow-throated adj.; swallow-like adj. and adv.; also † swallow-bird (-bridde), a young swallow; swallow-chatterer, the waxwing; swallow-day, the day on which the swallows arrive, or are reputed to arrive; swallow-fish, † (a) the flying-fish (= SEA-SWALLOW 1); (b) the sapphirine gurnard, Trigla hirundo (Cent. Dict.); swallow-fly, † (a) some unidentified swift-flying insect; (b) a parasitic fly that infests swallows; swallow-flycatcher = swallow-shrike; † swallow-footed a., swift-footed, running swiftly as a swallow flies; swallow-hawk, (a) the black-winged kite, Elanus melanopterus; (b) the swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus; † swallow(’s) herb = SWALLOWWORT 2; swallow-kite, the swallow-tailed kite; swallow pigeon = 3 c; swallow-shrike, a bird of the genus Artamus or family Artamidæ, found in India and Australia; swallow-smolt, a variety of speckled trout (see SMOLT sb.1 2); swallow’s nest, the nest of a swallow; transf. applied to a thing lodged at a height; spec. a battery of guns or company of shot placed on a height (cf. CROW’S NEST 1); swallow’s-nest fly, a fly that infests swallows’ nests; swallow-stone (trans. L. chelidonius lapillus, Pliny), a stone fabled to be brought from the sea-shore by swallows to give sight to their young; † swallow-swifter comp. adj. (nonce-wd.), swifter than a swallow; swallow-tick, a species of tick that infests swallows; swallow-warbler, an Australian species of warbler (Sylvia hirundinacea), with plumage resembling that of a swallow; swallow-winged a., (a) swift as the swallow; (b) shaped like a swallow’s wings; also (of a ship), having sails of such a shape; swallow-woodpecker, a woodpecker of the genus Melanerpes. See also SWALLOW-TAIL, etc.

56 a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, 180. Y shal alway crye mercy as a *swolwe-bridde.

57 1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 291/2. A kind of low footed Stool, or Cricket … with a ledge or border of Board nailed about the top of it, after the manner of a *Swallow Box.

58 1837.  Swainson, Nat. Hist. Birds, II. III. vi. 71. Bombycillinæ, or *swallow chatterers.

59 1828.  T. Forster, Circle of Seasons, 106. April 15…. In the Rustic Calendar this day is called *SWALLOW DAY.

60 1858.  Baird, Cycl. Nat. Sci., Hirundinidæ, the *Swallow family.

61 1601.  Holland, Pliny, XXXII. xi. II. 452. The sea *Swallow fish.

62 1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 234. Swallow-fish … hath hard flesh and therefore hardly concocted.

63 1681.  Grew, Musæum, I. V. iii. 116. The Swallow-Fish. So called from the length of his Gill-Fins, which reach to the end of his Tail, like a pair of very long Wings.

64 1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xlviii. She … loosens from the lip Short *swallow-flights of song, that dip Their wings in tears, and skim away.

65 1883.  J. Payn, Thicker than Water, xxii. After several swallow-flights of talk.

66 1668.  Charleton, Onomast., 43. Chelidon (quia volatu post se omnes relinquit) the *Swallow-fly.

67 1815.  Kirby & Sp., Entomol., iv. (1818), I. 112. The swallow-fly (Ornithomyia Hirundinis … L.) … has been known to make its repast on the human species.

68 1885.  Encycl. Brit., XVIII. 38/1. *Swallow-Flycatchers (Artamus).

69 1636.  W. Denny in Ann. Dubrensia (1877), 14. The *Swallow-footed Grey-hound.

70 1858.  Baird, Cycl. Nat. Sci., s.v. Milvinæ, The black winged *swallow-hawk lives principally upon insects which it catches upon the wing.

71 1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 32. The great Celandyne is named in Greeke χελιδονιον, that is to say, *Swallow-herbe.

72 1647.  Hexham, I. (Herbs), Swallowes hearbe, swaluw-kruydt.

73 1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., III. 547. Some Swifts, the Gyants of the *Swallow kind.

74 1773.  G. White, Selborne, To Pennant, 9 Nov. All the swallow kind sip their water as they sweep over the face of pools or rivers.

75 1840.  Macgillivray, Brit. Birds, I. 47. Nauclerus. *Swallow-kite.

76 1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 101. Furth she quicklye galops, with wingflight *swallolyke hastning.

77 1606.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. II. Magnificence, 747. Arm’d with Arrows,… Swift Swallow-like.

78 1843.  Penny Cycl., XXV. 272/1. The Swallow-like Campylopterians [humming-birds].

79 1896.  ‘Ian Maclaren,’ Kate Carnegie, 209. Old Sandie Ferguson … whose arrival, swallowlike, heralded the approach of the great occasion.

80 1730–46.  Thomson, Autumn, 836. Warn’d of approaching Winter, gather’d, play The *swallow-people.

81 1881.  Lyell, Pigeons, 85. The *swallow pigeon … has its name from its resemblance in marking to the tern or sea swallow.

82 1887.  Newton, in Encycl. Brit., XXII. 730/2. The Indian and Australian Artamus (the species of which genus are often known as Wood-Swallows, or *Swallow-Shrikes).

83 1847.  Stoddart, Angler’s Comp., 36. The *Swallow-Smolt of Tweed.

84 1604.  E. Grimstone, Hist. Siege Ostend, 166. The besieged shot three peeces at the *swalloes nest, and dismounted three of the enemies Canons.

85 1796.  Nemnich, Polygl.-Lex., Swallow’s-nest fly, Hippobosca avicularia.

86 1823.  Scott, Quentin D., iii. Certain cradles of iron, called ‘swallows’ nests,’ from which the sentinels … could … take deliberate aim.

87 1849.  Balfour, Man. Bot., § 1130. The edible swallows’-nests of the East.

88 1878.  Mrs. F. D. Bridges, Jrnl. Lady’s Trav. round World, i. 19 Sept. (1883), 13. We are living with 200 monks in a sort of swallows’-nest monastery, perched half-way up the face of a cliff.

89 1586.  Bright, Melanch., xxxix. 257. The chalydony, or *swallowe stone, found in the mawes of young swallowes.

90 1668.  Charleton, Onomast., 238. Chelidonius, Swallow-stone.

91 1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. III. Colonies, 429. *Swallow-swifter surges.

92 1879.  L. Wright, Pigeon Keeper, 148. If there be white in it or above it under the throat at all, the bird has the fault of being *‘swallow-throated.’

93 1826.  Samouelle, Direct. Collect. Insects & Crust., 55. The Forest Fly, Sheep and *Swallow-tick.

94 1766.  Pennant, Brit. Zool., II. 248. Concerning the manner the *swallow tribes dispose of themselves after their disappearance from the countries in which they make their summer residence.

95 1867.  T. R. Jones, Nat. Hist. Birds (1872), 58. The swallow tribes manifest a decided predilection for the neighbourhood of water.

96 1801.  Latham, Gen. Synopsis Birds, Suppl. II. 250. *Swallow Warbler … This is a small species; all above the plumage is black.

97 1597.  Pilgr. Parnass., II. 268. Shall not wee … To Parnass hast with *swallow-winged speede?

98 1629.  Massinger, Picture, II. i. Ill news, madam, Are swallow-winged.

99 1865.  J. H. Ingraham, Pillar of Fire (1872), 154. A long swallow-winged sail.

100 1902.  Munsey’s Mag., XXV. 486/1. The swallow-winged Levantine barques.

101 1837.  Swainson, Nat. Hist. Birds, II. III. ix. 135. The fifth and last genus (Melanerpes) may not unaptly be called *swallow woodpeckers, for they resemble those birds in their migratory habits, their long wings, and their black glossy plumage.

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