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swinge

1 American  
[swinj] / swɪndʒ /

verb (used with object)

British Dialect.
swinged, swingeing

  1. to thrash; punish.

swinge 2 American  
[swinj] / swɪndʒ /

verb (used with object)

swinged, swingeing

  1. to singe.

swinge British  
/ swɪndʒ /

verb

  1. archaic (tr) to beat, flog, or punish

"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

Other Word Forms

  • swinger noun

Etymology

Origin of swinge1

1250–1300; Middle English swengen to shake, smite, Old English swengan, causative of swingan to swing, or denominative derivative of Old English sweng a blow

Origin of swinge1

First recorded in 1580–90; obscurely akin to singe

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.

He must swinge them, like it or not!

From Project Gutenberg

My age! do not use That word again; if you do, I shall grow young, And swinge you soundly.

From Project Gutenberg

Margot closed the skirts round her ankles to keep away the upward draught and answered reasonably: 'Why, Neighbour Ned, my mistress made me go with her to see a heretic swinged.

From Project Gutenberg

I am right glad my Lord Chancellor got so well swinged!”

From Project Gutenberg

Saint George, that swinged the dragon, and e'er since Sits on his horse back at mine hostess' door.

From Project Gutenberg

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.