▪ I. † swough Obs.
Forms: 4 suowe, 4–5 swough(e, 5 swowe.
[Representing an original *swog(h)-, prob. related to *sweg(h)-, base of ME. sweȝe (see sway n., sway v., branch I).]
A forcible movement; impetus.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 170 Bot he com with a suowe, þat þe schip to rof. c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 198 (Harl. 7334) O firste meuyng cruel firmament With þi diurnal swough [other MSS. sweigh] þat crowdest ay. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1127 Nere swounes þe kynge for swoughe of his dynttez! c 1435 Torr. Portugal 548 To the chyld he toke a flyght With an howge swowe. a 1440 Sir Eglam. 391 He come to hym wyth a swowe, Hys gode stede undur hym he slowe. 1470–85 Malory Arthur v. iv, The dragon..come doune with suche a swough and smote the bore. |
▪ II. swough(e
obs. ff. sough n.1, n.2, var. swow.