The Public School Word-book / A conribution to to a historical glossary of words phrases and turns of expression obsolete and in current use peculiar to our great public schools together with some that have been or are modish at the universities

by John Stephen Farmer

1637. Du Bartas [Nares]. Then often SWINDGING, with his sinnewy train, Somtimes his sides, somtimes the dusty plain.

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

Swink, verb (Winchester).—To sweat; to work hard. Also as subs. See Swank.

1579. Mariage of Witt and Wisdome. But now I SWINKE and sweate in vaine, My labour hath no end, And moping in my study still, My youthfull yeares I spend.

1590. Spenser, Faërie Queene.... Honour, estate, and all this worlde’s good, For which men SWINCKE and sweat incessantly.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Swink.... The former [to sweat] is the primary Wykehamical meaning: SWINK and sweat have therefore changed places.

Swipes, subs. 1. (Stonyhurst).—The boy-servant who serves out beer at dinner.

2. (Harrow).—Supper.

To be swiped, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To be birched.

Swish, verb (Eton and Charterhouse).—To flog. Hence SWISHING = a beating.