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swink

American  
[swingk] / swɪŋk /

verb (used without object)

swank, swonk, swonken, swinking
  1. labor; toil.


swink British  
/ swɪŋk /

verb

  1. (intr) to toil or drudge

"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

noun

  1. toil or drudgery

"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

  • swinker noun

Etymology

Origin of swink

before 900; Middle English swinken, Old English swincan; akin to swing 1

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.

I 'lowed to swink up my belly to fit my rations.'

From Time Magazine Archive

Ben passed out bags and baskets, and then they marched off in a line—up past the dunes and the cabins, along the sandy path, past the swink bushes, into the prairie and along the creek.

From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder

Her face was already smeared with swink juice, her mouth full and happy.

From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder

Ess wasn’t near the swink bushes, or taking cover from the rain in the trees where the hens liked to sleep.

From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder

“I’ll git sollumcholic ef I don’t have a frolic, My head’ll git flabby an’ swink; I chaw de pine-bud, kaze I’m ’bout ter lose my cud An’ some nights I don’t sleep a wink!

From Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit by Harris, Joel Chandler