swifter, n.
(ˈswɪftə(r))
[See swift v.1]
1. Naut. A rope used for swifting (see swift v.1). a. One of a pair of shrouds, fixed above the other shrouds, for swifting or stiffening a mast. b. A rope passed through holes or notches in the outer ends of the capstan-bars and drawn taut. c. A rope passed around a boat or ship as a protection against strain or collision.
| a 1625 Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301) Swifters..Doe belong to the Maine and fore-mast, and are to succor the Shrowdes, and keepe stiff the Mast, they haue Pendants, w{supc}{suph} are made faste vnder the Shrowdes, at the head of the Mast, with a double Block, through w{supc}{suph} is reeued the Swifter, w{supc}{suph} at the Standing parte hath a single Block with a hooke, which is hitched in a Ring by the Chaine Wale, and soo the fall being hal'd doth helpe to strengthen the Mast. 1627 Capt. J. Smith Sea. Gram. v. 19 Ouer the heads of those Masts are pendants, for Tackels and Swifters vnder them. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789) L 2 b. 1836 Marryat Midsh. Easy xl, ‘Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters,’ cried Jack. 1847 A. C. Key Narr. Recov. H.M.S. Gorgon 18 A swifter consisting of three turns of twelve-inch hemp cable, was passed round the ship. 1883 Man. Seamanship for Boys 200 In each end of the bars [of the capstan] there is a notch; a piece of rope called the swifter is passed round in each notch, and swab-hitched to the end of each bar. |
2. N. Amer. Logging. A cable or spar used to secure a raft of logs.
| 1870 Overland Monthly 5 July 58/1 In a ‘square’ raft, long, slender spars, called ‘swifters’, are placed. 1975 H. White Raincoast Chron. (1976) 150/1 They were using a hand winch to pull the swifters across that locked the logs in place. |
Hence ˈswifter v. trans. to fasten a swifter to, or tighten with a swifter: = swift v.1
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship I. 198 The shrouds are then swiftered together. 1881 W. C. Russell Ocean Free-Lance II. iv. 170, I had the lower rigging swiftered. |