Also called swift moth,ghost moth. any of several brown or gray moths, the males of which are usually white, of the family Hepialidae, noted for rapid flight.
an adjustable device upon which a hank of yarn is placed in order to wind off skeins or balls.
the main cylinder on a machine for carding flax.
Origin of swift
before 900;Middle English (adj. and adv.), Old English (adj.); akin to Old Englishswīfan to revolve, Old Norsesvīfa to rove; see swivel
Related formsswift·ly, adverbswift·ness, nounCan be confusedfastquickrapidswift (see synonym study at quick)
any of five species of fast-flying moths of the family Hepialidae, regarded as primitive in development, having forewings and hind wings similar in size and shape: the best known is the ghost swift,Hepialus humiliOften shortened to: swift
swift
adjective
moving or able to move quickly; fast
occurring or performed quickly or suddenly; instanta swift response
(postpositive foll by to) prompt to act or respondswift to take revenge
adverb
swiftly or quickly
(in combination)swift-moving
noun
any bird of the families Apodidae and Hemiprocnidae, such as Apus apus (common swift) of the Old World: order Apodiformes. They have long narrow wings and spend most of the time on the wing
(sometimes capital)a variety of domestic fancy pigeon originating in Egypt and Syria and having an appearance somewhat similar to a swift
any of certain North American lizards of the genera Sceloporus and Uta that can run very rapidly: family Iguanidae (iguanas)
the main cylinder in a carding machine
an expanding circular frame used to hold skeins of silk, wool, etc
Derived Formsswiftly, adverbswiftness, noun
Word Origin for swift
Old English, from swīfan to turn; related to Old Norse svifa to rove, Old Frisian swīvia to waver, Old High German sweib a reversal; see swivel
Swift
noun
Graham Colin. born 1949, English writer: his novels include Waterland (1983), Last Orders (1996), which won the Booker prize, and The Light of Day (2002)
Jonathan. 1667–1745, Anglo-Irish satirist and churchman, who became dean of St Patrick's, Dublin, in 1713. His works include A Tale of a Tub (1704) and Gulliver's Travels (1726)
Old English swift "moving quickly," related to swifan "move in a course, sweep" (see swivel). Related: Swiftly; swiftness.
swift
n.
type of bird (several species of the family Cypselidæ, resembling swallows), 1660s, from swift (adj.) in reference to its swift flight. Regarded as a bird of ill-omen, if not downright demonic, probably for its shrill cry. The name earlier had been given to several small fast lizards (1520s).
