SWANNERY. He keeps a swannery; i.e. all his geese are swans.
SWEATING. A mode of diminishing the gold coin, practiced chiefly by the Jews, who corrode it with aqua regia. Sweating was also a diversion practised by the bloods of the last century, who styled themselves Mohocks: these gentlemen lay in wait to surprise some person late in the night, when surrounding him, they with their swords pricked him in the posteriors, which obliged him to be constantly turning round; this they continued till they thought him sufficiently sweated.
SWEET. Easy to be imposed on, or taken in; also expert, dexterous clever. Sweet's your hand; said of one dexterous at stealing.
SWEET HEART. A term applicable to either the masculine
or feminine gender, signifying a girl's lover, or a man's
mistress: derived from a sweet cake in the shape of a
heart.
SWEETNESS. Guinea droppers, cheats, sharpers. To sweeten
to decoy, or draw in. To be sweet upon; to coax, wheedle,
court, or allure. He seemed sweet upon that wench; he seemed to
court that girl.
SWELL. A gentleman. A well-dressed map. The flashman bounced the swell of all his blunt; the girl's bully frightened the gentleman out of all his money.
SWELLED HEAD. A disorder to which horses are extremely liable, particularly those of the subalterns of the army. This disorder is generally occasioned by remaining too long in one livery-stable or inn, and often arises to that height that it prevents their coming out at the stable door. The most certain cure is the unguentum aureum—not applied to the horse, but to the palm of the master of the inn or stable. N. B. Neither this disorder, nor its remedy, is mentioned by either Bracken, Bartlet, or any of the modern writers on farriery.
SWIG. A hearty draught of liquor.
SWIGMEN. Thieves who travel the country under colour of buying old shoes, old clothes, &c. or selling brooms, mops, &c. CANT.
TO SWILL. To drink greedily.