swither

[swith -er]

noun British Dialect.

a state of confusion, excitement, or perplexity.

Origin of swither

1495–1505; origin uncertain; compare Old English geswithrian to retire, dwindle, fail

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Examples from the Web for swither

Historical Examples of swither

A the folk say there was nae doubt about it, and sae does my mother, but my father was aye in a swither; he thought it couldna be.
Merkland
Mrs. Oliphant
He seemed to be in a swither whether to return home, to follow ye, or to lie down and die by the road.
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 17
Alexander Leighton
The whole works ud be in a swither 'fore iver we'd time to ax what was comin'.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 15, No. 90, April, 1865
Various
Strong cruel brutes, they did not swither a moment, but both leaped at M'Iver's throat.
John Splendid
Neil Munro

British Dictionary definitions for swither

swither

verb (intr)

to hesitate; vacillate; be perplexed

noun

hesitation; perplexity; agitation

Word Origin for swither

C16: of unknown origin

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