Swal
(Swal) obs. imp. of Swell. Swelled. Chaucer.
Swale
(Swale) n. [Cf. Icel. svalr cool, svala to cool.] A valley or low place; a tract of low, and usually
wet, land; a moor; a fen. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.]
Swale
(Swale), v. i. & t. To melt and waste away; to singe. See Sweal, v.
Swale
(Swale), n. A gutter in a candle. [Prov. Eng.]
Swallet
(Swal"let) n. [Cf. G. schwall a sea swell, from schwellen to swell, E. swell.] Water breaking
in upon the miners at their work; — so called among tin miners. [Prov. Eng.]
Swallow
(Swal"low) n. [OE. swalowe, AS. swalewe, swealwe; akin to D. zwaluw, OHG. swalawa, G.
schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. svala, Dan. svale.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidæ, especially one of
those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the
swiftness and gracefulness of their flight.
The most common North American species are the barn swallow the cliff, or eaves, swallow (see under
Cliff), the white-bellied, or tree, swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and the bank swallow The common European
swallow and the window swallow, or martin are familiar species.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits,
as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.
3. (Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Swallow plover (Zoöl.), any one of several species of fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus Glareola,
as G. orientalis of India; a pratincole. — Swallow shrike (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East
Indian and Asiatic birds of the family Artamiidæ, allied to the shrikes but similar to swallows in appearance
and habits. The ashy swallow shrike (Artamus fuscus) is common in India. — Swallow warbler (Zoöl.),
any one of numerous species of East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus Dicæum. They are
allied to the honeysuckers.
Swallow
(Swal"low) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swallowed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Swallowing.] [OE. swolewen,
swolwen, swolhen, AS. swelgan; akin to D. zwelgen, OHG. swelahan, swelgan, G. schwelgen to
feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW. svälja, Dan. svælge. Cf. Groundsel a plant.]
1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow
food or drink.
As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills.
Shak. 2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb — usually followed by up. Milton.
The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses.
Num. xvi. 32. 3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.
Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.
Sir T. Browne. 4. To engross; to appropriate; — usually with up.
Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him.
Pope.
