† swalm, n. Obs.
Forms: 3 swalm, 4 sualm, 6 swalme, Sc. swame, 7 swawme.
[ME. swalm, f. swal-: swel- (see swell v.); cf. qualm.]
1. Swelling.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 274 Drinc þeonne atterloðe, & drif þene swel [MS. C. swalm] aȝeanward urommard þe heorte. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 167, I sall..me assuage of the swalme, that suellit wes gret. a 1583 Montgomerie Flyting 336 (Tullibardine MS.), The stane worme, þe ringworme, not slaiking of swame. |
2. (An attack of) faintness or sickness. (Cf. sweam.)
| a 1300 Cursor M. 20758 (Cott.), ‘Ga to þaa men þat lijs in sualm,’ He said, ‘and rine on þam wit it.’ 1601 Holland Pliny xxiii. Proeme II. 146 Women who being newly conceived and breeding child, have many swawms come over their heart. 1609 ― Amm. Marcell. xxiv. vi. 255 A cold swawme of feare that quickly came over his heart. |
So † swalm v. intr. and trans., to faint or cause to faint; also in vbl. n., swooning.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xvii. 648 Sum ded, sum hurt, sum swavnand [sic; ? read swavmand; v.r. swonand]. c 1440 Bone Flor. 770 Hur fadur nere hande can talme, Soche a sweme hys harte can swalme. a 1583 Montgomerie Flyting 311 (Tullibardine MS.) With swaming to swelt. |