Swaledale

British

/ ˈsweɪlˌdeɪl /

noun

a breed of small hardy sheep kept esp in northern England for its coarse wool which is used for making tweeds and carpets

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Swaledale

from Swaledale, Yorkshire

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The route goes from Kirkby Stephen, over the hills to Swaledale, past long-forgotten lead mine ruins - as recently seen in Wuthering Heights - and on through vibrant green pastures to Reeth and Richmond.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The locations chosen for the new film included Arkengarthdale, Swaledale and the village of Low Row.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2025

When the cathedral published revised designs in June—a slab of Swaledale fossil stone, inscribed with a deep cross—one MP likened it to a bicycle parking slot.

From Economist • Jul. 31, 2014

The 118-mile stage will head out via Harewood, Otley and Ilkley, before heading up to Aysgarth and then the famous Buttertubs Pass between Swaledale and Wensleydale.

From The Guardian • Jan. 19, 2013

Swaledale slaiching, "sneaking," is the same as O. N. slæikja, "to lick"; a secondary meaning of O. N. slæikja is "to sneak"; keeal, "kail," could come from O. N. kál or Gael. cál.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023