Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for swinge. Search instead for swinged.

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


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 swinge2

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.

See Examples For:

The young dogs, swinge them to the labour; Let wark an’ hunger mak’ them sober!

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Robert Burns

For the sake of your beaux yeux he will have to swinge them, and lustily.

From Sophia A Romance by Stanley John Weyman

O winds, winds, up and sweep, Up and blow and billow the air, Billow the air with blow and swinge, Rend me this ghastly house of groans!

From The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2 by George MacDonald

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

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by John Dunlop

The young dogs, swinge them to the labour; Let wark an' hunger mak them sober!

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns

Fafà Picault swinged in a cross from wide left, Whitecaps goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was unable to corral it after a deflection off defender Bruno Gaspar and Rodríguez smashed home the putback.

From Seattle Times ● May 22, 2021

True, sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours.

From Two Gentlemen of Verona The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by William George Clark

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

From Familiar Quotations A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature by John Bartlett

Haste, for the holy Virgin’s love, or I shall be well swinged when she cometh home!”

From The Well in the Desert An Old Legend of the House of Arundel by M. (Madelaine) Irwin

The Parliament sits to-morrow, and Walpole, late Secretary at War, is to be swinged for bribery, and the Queen is to communicate something of great importance to the two Houses, at least they say so.

From The Journal to Stella by Jonathan Swift

At the same time, he has been criticised for swingeing job cuts as he tries to restore order to the club's finances.

From Barron's ● Jan. 5, 2026

The most swingeing, the Caesar Act, has been suspended and could be repealed by the US Congress in the new year.

From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025

The public market imposes a fairly swingeing discount on inorganic growth.

From The Verge ● Mar. 8, 2022

Italy was the first Western country to introduce swingeing restrictions on movement after uncovering the outbreak almost six weeks ago.

From Reuters ● Mar. 31, 2020

The catchpole, having made shift to get down a swingeing sneaker of Breton wine, said to Basche, Pray, sir, what do you mean?

From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 4 by Peter Anthony Motteux

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com