▪ I. † swanking, n. Sc. Obs. rare—1.
[Cf. swank a.1, swanky n.1]
A fine strapping fellow.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxv. 26 My sweit swanking [1568 Bannatyne MS. swanky], saif ȝow allane, Na leid I luiffit all this owk. |
▪ II. ˈswanking, a. Sc.
[Cf. swanky, swankie n.1 (a.1).]
Strong and active, stout, strapping.
| a 1704 T. Brown Lett. fr. Dead ii. (1707) 84 There goes a tall Ensign, there's a swanking Fellow for you. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxiv, I lived on his land when I was a swanking young chield. 1877 Black Green Past. xliv, Tall, swanking fellows with big riding-boots and loose jackets. |
▪ III. ˈswanking, vbl. n. slang.
[f. swank v. + -ing1.]
= swank n.2
| 1900 Manch. Guardian 5 Dec. 3/8 (E.D.D.) Smith picked up a piece of paper, and attempted to light it, but did not do so. The deceased said, ‘None of your swanking, Smith, you can light it well enough’. 1916 Captain June 231/1 (heading) The perils of swanking. 1918 Daily Express 2 Oct. 2/2 History will declare that by swanking the Hohenzollerns fell. |
▪ IV. ˈswanking, ppl. a. slang.
[f. swank v. + -ing2.]
That swanks; boastful, ostentatious, pretentious.
| 1918 Daily Express 2 Oct. 2/2 The swanking dustman is a nuisance. So is the swanking duke. |