SWAG-SHOP, a warehouse where “Brummagem” and general wares are sold,—fancy trinkets, plated goods, &c. Jews are the general proprietors, and the goods are excessively low priced, trashy, and showy. Swag-shops were formerly plunder depôts.—Old cant.
SWAGSMAN, one who carries the booty after a burglary.
SWANKEY, cheap beer.—West.
SWAP, to exchange. Grose says it is Irish cant, but the term is now included in most dictionaries as an allowed vulgarism.
SWEAT, to extract money from a person, to “bleed,” to squander riches.—Bulwer.
SWEATER, common term for a “cutting” or “grinding” employer.
SWEEP, a low or shabby man.
SWEET, loving or fond; “how SWEET he was upon the moll,” i.e., what marked attention he paid the girl.
SWELL, a man of importance; a person with a showy, jaunty exterior; “a rank SWELL,” a very “flashly” dressed person, a man who by excessive dress apes a higher position than he actually occupies. Anything is said to be SWELL or SWELLISH that looks showy, or is many coloured, or is of a desirable quality. Dickens and Thackeray are termed great SWELLS in literature; so indeed are the first persons in the learned professions.
SWELL FENCER, a street salesman of needles.