▪ I. swedge, n.
(swɛdʒ)
[Variant of swage n.2]
= swage n.2 2 b. Also attrib.
| 1825–80 Jamieson, Swedge, an iron chisel with a bevelled edge, used for making the groove round the shoe of a horse, Roxb. To Swedge, to make a groove in a horse-shoe for receiving the nails, Roxb. This is done by such a chisel as that above described. 1881 Greener Gun 181 This shell is found to be rather uncertain in exploding, therefore Forsyth brought out the swedge shell as an improvement. Ibid., The base of the bullet is..passed through a screw swedge, which..makes the bullet appear as one piece. 1908 Animal Managem. 234 The ‘swedge,’ ‘crease,’ or ‘concave tool,’..is a mould through which the hot bar is pulled by the smith, whilst it is hammered by the striker. |
▪ II. swedge, v.
(swɛdʒ)
[f. prec. n.]
trans. = swage v.3 (also transf. to double back or round an object). Also (U.S. Naut. slang. rare) intr., to go off or depart without paying.
| 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm III. 1079 A blade of rolled cast-steel swedged into a form. Ibid., The swedged or moulded back. 1881 Greener Gun 181 Two pairs of moulds and one swedging machine. 1884 J. H. Walsh Sportsman's Gun & Rifle II. 314 Conical [bullets]..may be ‘swedged’ or driven into a suitably constructed die by blows upon a punch applied to the base of the bullet. 1897 Kipling Capt. Cour. v. 124 ‘Seems kinder unneighbourly to let 'em swedge off like this,’ Salters suggested, feeling in his pockets. 1901 ― Kim xiv, He bound them into a neat packet, swedging down the stiff, sticky oil-cloth at the corners. |