▪ I. † swelth1 Chiefly Sc. Obs.
Also 4 suelth, swelt, 6 sweltht, swelf, 7 suald.
[Representing or related to OE. ᵹeswelᵹ, swelh or ON. svelgr swallow n.2]
1. A whirlpool.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxiv. (Pelagia) 181 Men but nombre als haf I Gert synk in-to þe suelth of syne. c 1400 Sc. Trojan War (Horstm.) ii. 2273 That swelt half of my schippis has Suellede ande all þat in þaime was. c 1460 Promp. Parv. (Winch.) 445 Swelth of a water or grownd, vorago. c 1500 Lancelot 1317 Thi schip, that goth apone the stormy vall, Ney of thi careldis in the swelf it fall. 1513 Douglas æneis i. iii. 42 Thryise thair the fluide quhirlit about round, The sowcand sweltht. Ibid. iv. 73 The ragis of Silla that huge swelth in the se Ȝe haue eschapit. 1601 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 391/2 Passand..be the eist syid of ane arne or aller bus in the lin or suald of Schirestoun. |
2. Foul or troubled water.
Prob. due to misapprehension of a passage in G. Douglas.
| 1563 Mirr. Mag., Induct. xxxi, A deadly gulfe where nought but rubbishe growes, With fowle blacke swelth in thickned lumpes y{supt} lyes. Ibid. lxix, Rude Acheron,..That boyles and bubs vp swelth as blacke as hell. |
▪ II. swelth2 Now dial. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).
(swɛlθ)
[f. swell v. + -th1.]
(A) swelling (lit. and fig.).
| 1631 Byfield Doctr. Sabb. 101 His wound and bruise could be seene no where but on his head, necke and face in swelth and blacknesse. 1647 Trapp Comm. Matt. xix. 23 The greatest wealth is ordinarily tumoured up with the greatest swelth of rebellion against God. 1671 Grew Anat. Plants vi. §2 The continuance and ampliation or, (as I may call it) the swelth and superbience of the Inner Part thereof. 1681 ― Musæum ii. i. i. 183 Neither is it only the swelth of the Barque, but the Wood it self is augmented. |