switch 
track of the main line, so that the main-line rails are nut 
cut at all. Tnuse this form of s wit Hi the levers are moved, 
and the car risen on an Inclined mil and passes ovi-r the 
main rails to the siding. A great number of devices have 
Switches. 
Figs, i .md 2. Point-switches, or Split Switches. Fig. 3. Stub-switch. 
Kiif. 4. Double-Klip Swilch. Fig. 5. Section of fig. I. a, a, main tracks; 
A, A, branch tracks, or sidings ; c, t, single frogs ; < '. *"'. double frogs ; d, 
switch-bar or -rod (that nearest the point is called the/nmr rod} ; e, 
swit.h-st.mil, with butterfly-signal ami lamp. In fig. 4 the switches 
are shown as arranged at a crossing for shifting a train from one track 
to another in either direction. The outer raits in point-switches are 
full rails anil rigidly spiked to the tics, while the inner are mov- 
.ihlc .tni I l.ipi-r to a point (whence the term split, as applied tu them, 
is derived). In stub-switches the rails are full, and the rails of the 
in. MM track adjacent to the branch as well a the branch rails are 
rigid, while the movable rails are on that part of the main track which 
meets the branch. The double-slip switch is simply composed of lour 
ixmit-switchcs. 
hecn invented to make switches more safe, to render them 
automatic (as at the terminus of a line where the engine is 
to be shifted to the other end of a train), to render them 
interlocking, so that no one switch of a system can be 
opened without locking all others, and to connect them 
with signals and annunciators. Switches In one yard are 
now commonly controlled by means of long levers with a 
central tower from which one switchman cau see and con- 
trol them all. (6) In teleg., a device used to make or break 
a circuit, to join two lines of wire or a main wire with a 
branch wire, or to connect any telegraph, telephone, elec- 
tric-light, or electric-signal wires in any manner. The most 
simple form of switch Is a lever pivoted at one end and 
connected with one circuit, and, by Its movement lateral- 
ly, used to connect that circuit with one of several others. 
Another simple form, called the plug- or peg-siritch, con- 
sists of a metal plug or peg that may be Inserted in open- 
ings or spaces between metal rods connected with different 
circuits. The peg serves as a bridge to Join different cir- 
cuits. The peg may also be connected with a short piece 
of flexible wire, the wire serving as a bridge for the cur- 
rent. By moving the peg from place to place on the switch- 
Iward, the wire serves as a switch to divert the current 
from one Hue to another. See nritckbuard. 
3. In some forms of gas-burnor, a key for con- 
trolling the amount of gas allowed to pass 
through. 4. The act of operating a switch: 
as, to make a flying switch. See phrase below. 
5. A quantity of long hair, secured together 
at one end, worn by -women with their own 
hair to make it look thicker. Jute or yak is 
sometimes used with or in place of hair, being 
cheaper Flying switch, a switch operated or effected 
in such a way, while a train is in motion, as to send dif- 
ferent part* of the train (previously disconnected) along 
different lines. Pole-chan(?ing switch. Same as pole- 
chatvjfr, (See also piii-sicifcli, replacinff-fwitch.) 
switch (swich), r. [Formerly also swich; < 
switch, . ; in part prob. of more orig. standing, 
representing the verb from which switch is ult. 
derived.] I. tram. 1. To strike with a small 
twig or rod; beat; lush; hence, to cut or drive 
as with a switch. 
Go, twitch me up a covey of young scholars. 
Fletcher, Wit without Money, II. 4. 
You must truss up a cow's tail If you don't want to be 
tiriMint when you're milking. 5. Judd, Margaret, II. 8. 
2. To swing; whisk. 
The elephant was standing swaying his trunk backwards 
and forwards, and switching his tail in an angry manner. 
St. Xicholat, XVII. 8M, 
3. To trim, as a hedge. Haiti icell. [Prov. Eng.] 
4. In rail., to transfer by a switch ; transfer 
from one line of rails to another. 5. In elect., 
to shift to another circuit; shunt. 
II. intrants. 1. To cut at; strike at. 
Whilst those hardy Scots upon the firm earth bled, 
With his revengeful sword ttrich'd after them th:i! tlrd. 
Drayton, Polyolbiou, xvlii. 3'JO. 
2. To move off on a switch, or as if on a switch. 
Two branches of the Alexandria and Lynchburg [rail- 
way] line mriteA off to enter the Valley of Virginia. 
Cotnte Ac. Paris, Civil War in America (trails.), I. 230. 
switchback (swich'bak), a. and H. I. a. Cbar- 
nctcri/.cil by alternate motion, or by motion 
back and forth ; pertaining to or adapted to 
use on a switchback : as, a switchback method 
of ascent; a mcitchlitick series of inclines; a 
switchback railway. Circular switchback rail- 
way, a switchback railway which Is circular lu plan : a 
form much t-mploj ed at pleasure-resorts. 
II. . 1. A railway for ascending or descend- 
ing steep acclivities, in which a practicable 
6117 
grade is obtained by curving the track alter- 
nately barkrtiinl and forward along the side 
of the slope. Also called switchback railway. 
2. By extension, an inclined railway in which 
tin- movement of a train or of a car ig partly 
or wholly effected by gravity, as in the switch- 
luick railway at Munch Chunk, Pennsylvania, 
and railways constructed f orpurposes of amuse- 
ment at watering-places, fairs, and pleasure- 
resorts. In many of these the car first runs down a steep 
incline, and by it* momentum is carried up a lesser incli lit-, 
alternate ascents and descents being made till the end of 
the course Is reached. 
switch-bar (swich'bar), . 1. The bar or rod 
that t-niiiii-i-t s the movable rails of a switch with 
a switch-lever at the side of the track. 2. The 
movable bar of a switch by which an electric 
circuit is made or broken. 
switchboard (swich'bord), n. A device by 
means of which interchangeable connections 
can be established readily between the many 
circuits employed in systems of telegraphy, 
telephony, electric lighting, or electric-power 
distribution. A common form consists of two sets of 
rods or plates of brass set at right angles to each other, 
H Hi 
a. keyboard ; *. cam-lever, which puts the station Into connection 
with lines: f, ringing*key, which Is used to ring up subscribers: d, tf , 
spring-Jacks, in which the lines terminate ; e, annunciators, which an- 
nounce the call ; /, hog-trough, which enables the annunciators to be 
placed in a conveniently low position ; f, receiver ; A, transmitter ; 
f, switchboard-plugs, used In pairs and attached to flexible wires, by 
which one line is connected with another ; j, >'. switchboard-cables, 
carrying the wires to the spring-jacks ; -*. weights and pulleys, which 
take up the slack in the flexible wires ; /, intermediate distributing- 
board : rrt. condenser, which prevents the current from passing from 
one side of the plug to the other, thereby preventing false tests ;, in- 
duction-coil for transmitter. 
each rod carefully Insulated, the end of each plate or strip 
being joined to one of the lines. Any one of these may be 
joined to any other by means of metal plugs Inserted at 
the point where the corresponding strips cross each other. 
A great variety of switchboards are made, each being 
adapted to the particular use for which It Is Intended, 
switchel (swich'el), n. [Origin obscure.] A 
drink made of molasses and water, and some- 
times a little vinegar and ginger; also, rum 
and water sweetened with molasses, formerly 
a common beverage among American sailors ; 
hence, in sailors' use, any strong drink, sweet- 
ened and flavored. [U. 8.] 
swither 
for shifting cars, making up trains, and other 
yard-work. It Is usually a tank-engine, and Is often car- 
ried without trucks on a rigid wheel-base, or has only a 
1*011} -truck. 
switching-eye (swich'ing-i), . On a railroad, 
a cast-iron ttorket at the corner of a car, IIMM! 
for the attachment of a chain or pushing-bar, 
to admit of moving the car by an engine on a 
parallel track, or of moving the car by horse- 
power. Also called pull-iron. 
switching-ground (swich'ing-ground), n. A 
piece of ground, open or inclosed, where cars 
are switched from one track to another and 
trains are made up. Harper's May., LXXVUI. 
266. 
switching-locomotive (swich'ing - 16 - ko - mo'- 
t iv I, //. SIT liti'oiiitilii'i . 
switching-neck (swich'ing-nek), n. The Loui- 
siana heron, as found in the Bahamas. The 
Auk, Jan., 1891, p. 77. 
switching-plug (swich'ing-plug), n. A small 
insulated* plug used to connect loops or circuits 
on the switchboard of a telegraph or telephone 
central station. 
switch-lantern (swich'lan'tern), n. On a rail- 
way, a lantern fixed to the lever of a switch, 
indicating by its position, or the color of the 
light displayed, the condition of the switch and 
the particular track which is open. 
switch-lever (swich'lev'er), n. The handle 
and lever which control a switch. 
switchman (swich 'man), n. ; pi. switchmen 
(-men). One who has charge of one or more 
switches on a railway; a pointsman. 
switch-motion (swich'mo'shon), n. In a bob- 
inet-frame, the mechanism which reverses the 
motion of the bobbin after it has passed a sel- 
vage, and causes it to return to the opposite 
selvage. 
switch-signal (swich'sig'nal), n. On a rail- 
way, a flag, lantern, or sign-board used to indi- 
cate the position of a switch. Such a signal is 
often so arranged that the movement of the 
switch sets it automatically. 
switch-sorrel (swich'sor'el), . See sorrel*. 
switch-stand (swieh'stand), n. A stand which 
supports the levers by which railway-switches 
are moved, together with the locking-arrange- 
ments, etc. 
switch-tender (swich'ten'der), n. A switch- 
man. 
Her husband, who Is now twitch-Under, lost his arm In 
the great smash-up. E. E. Hale, Ten Times One, I. 
switchy(swich'i), a. [< switch + -yi.] 1. Per- 
taining to or resembling a switch. [Rare.] 
It 's a slender, nritchy stock, Mr. Graven : may bend, 
may break. You should take care of yourself. 
E. S. Phelpe, Sealed Orders, p. 157. 
2. Whisking. [Rare.] 
And now perhaps her twitchy tall 
Hangs on a barn-door from a nail. 
Combe, Dr. Syntax's Toon, i. 20. (Dana.) 
switht, a. [< ME. swith, stryth, < AS. smith, 
strong, quick, = OS. swith = MHG. swind, G. 
geschicind = Icel. svidhr, srinnr, quick, prompt, 
= Goth, svinths, strong.] Strong: used only in 
the comparative swither, in the phrases MCI ///</ 
liiniil. the right hand, sicither half, the right side. 
Layamon. 
swith, swithe 1 (swith, SWITH), ailr. [8c. also 
" Come, Molly, pretty dear," set in her father, "no black- swyth;< ME. c ith, swithe. swythe, swuthe, < AS. 
** OT "t/Ot Margaret, 11 6. **. strongly, quickly, <? swith, strong, quick : 
switcher (swich'er), n. [< xii-i/,-li + -erl.] 1. 
A small switch. Halliwelt. [Prov. Eng.] 
2. A switchman. Philadelphia Times, March 
11, 1886. [Rare.] 3. A switching-engine. 
[CJ. R] 
switcher-gear (swich'er-ger), n. A switch with 
the mechanism by which it is operated. The 
Engineer, LXVII. 220. 
switch-grass (swich'gras), n. A kind of panic- 
grass, fanieiim virgatum, found from the Atlan- 
tic coast to the Rocky Mountains in the United 
States. It is a tall species with a large pani- 
cle, of some use among wild grasses. 
switching (swich'ing), n. [Verbal n. of sicitck, 
.] 1. A beating with a switch. 
The twitching dulled him. 
Beau, and Fl., Fair Maid of the Inn, I. 
2. Trimming. 3. Shunting Switching of 
hedges, the cutting off of the one year's growth which 
protrudes from the Sides of the hedges. 
switching-bill (swich'ing-bil), H. An instru- 
ment used in pruning hedges. 
switching-engine (swich'ing-en'jin), . On a 
railroad, a drilling- or yard-locomotive used 
see sic ith, a.] 1. Quickly; speedily; promptly. 
[Obsolete or Scotch.] 
Therwith the teres from hire eyen two 
Donu felle, as shoures In Aprllle, ttrithe. 
Chaucer, Troilus, Iv. 761. 
Suith to the Laigh Kirk ane and a', 
And there tak up your stations. 
Burnt, The Ordination. 
2f. Strongly; very. 
And [they] mown nougt swynken ne swetcn bat ben nrythe 
feble, 
Other maymed at myschef or meseles syke. 
Fieri Plowman's Crede (E. E. T. S-X I. 622. 
Of this swift answer the! wer ncith glad. 
AKmunder of llacedmne (E. E. T. S.\ L 587. 
3. Interjectionally, quick 1 off! begone! [Ob- 
solete or Scotch.] 
swithe 2 !, r. [= ME. swithen, < Icel. sridha, 
burn, = Sw. srida, smart, pain, ache, = Dan. 
svide, svie, singe, burn. Cf. in'<Aer a .] To 
burn. 
swither 1 (swira'Sr), v. i. [Also stcidder; < ME. 
"swetheren, < AS. sicetherian, sirethrian, also 
swetholian, grow faint, fail, decay, abate.] 1. 
To fail ; falter; hesitate. 
