sword-dollar 
472-J grains, and worth 30s. Scotch or 2s. 6d. Eng- 
lish at the time of issue: so called from the 
sword on its reverse. 
sworded (sor'ded), a. [< sword* + -erf 2 .] Hav- 
ing a sword; armed with a sword. 
The helmed Cherubim, 
And m'orded Seraphim. 
Milton, Ode, Nativity, 1. 113. 
SWOrdert (sor'der), . [< sifwd 1 + -er 1 .] 1. 
One who uses a sword habitually; a swords- 
man; hence, by extension, one who is nothing 
but a swordsman ; a gladiator or bravo. 
A Konian swonler and banditto slave 
Murder'd sweet Tully. 
SAofc, 2 Hen. VI., iv. 1. 135. 
2. A game-cock that wounds its antagonist 
freely with the gaffs; a cutter. Halliwell. 
SWOrd-flght (sord'ilt), n. A combat or fight 
with swords. 
Some they set to fight with beasts, some to fight with 
one another. These they called gladiatores, sword-players ; 
& this spectacle, uiunus gladiatorium, a sword-fiyht. 
Hakeimll, Apology, IV. iv. 8. 
swordfish (sord'fish), n. 1. A common name of 
various fishes, (a) Originally, Xiphias gladius, the com- 
mon swordfish of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, having 
the upper jaw elongated into a sharp sword-like weapon 
(whence the name); hence, any xiphioid fish ; any member 
of the Xiphiidie. The common swordflsh resembles and 
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius'). 
(From Report of U. S. Fish Commission.) 
Is related to the saillish and spearfish (compare cuts under 
these words). It measures from 10 to 15 feet in length, 
the sword forming about three tenths of this length, and 
acquires a weight of from 300 to 400 pounds ; it has a single 
long elevated dorsal fin, but no ventral fins. The sword- 
fish attacks other fishes with its jaw, and it sometimes per- 
forates the planks of ships with the same powerful weapon. 
The flesh is very palatable and nutritious, (ft) A garpike ; 
also, the garfish. Belone culffaris. [Local, Scotch.] (c) The 
butter-fish, Mur&noides ffunnellus. [Orkney.] (d) The 
cutlas-flsh. See cut under Trichiurus. (e) The killer or 
grampus, a cetacean mammal of the genus Orca. 
2. [cop.] In aslron., a southern constellation, 
Dorado Swordflsh sucker, a remora, Echeneis bra- 
chyptera, which often fastens on swordflshes. 
SWOrdfishery (sord'fish"er-i), . Fishing for 
swordfishes; the act or practice of taking xiphi- 
oid fishes. 
swordfishing (sord'fish'ing), . [< swordfish 
+ -ing.'] The act or occupation of catching 
swordfish. 
Swordfishing is the most popular way of spending the 
day [at Block Island]. 
The Conyregationalist, Aug. 20, 1S79. 
Sword-flag (sord'flag), n. The yellow flag of the 
Old World, Iris Pseudacorus. 
SWOrd-flighted (sord'tU'ted), a. Having cer- 
tain flight-feathers contrasted in color with the 
rest, so that when the wing is closed the bird 
may be fancied to wear a sword at its side. 
See the quotation. 
Pouters properly have their primary wing-feathers white, 
but not rarely a "sword-flighted " bird appears that is, 
one with the few first primaries dark-coloured. 
Darwin, Var. of Animals and Plants, p. 342. 
sword-gauntlet (sord'ganf'let), n. A gauntlet 
similar to the tilting-gauntlet. 
SWOrd-grass (sord'gras), n. A name of various 
plants, referring to the form of their leaves, 
(a) The sword-lily, Gladiolus, (b) A species of sand-spur- 
rey, Spergularia seffetalis. (c) A species of melilot, Meli- 
lotus twlcata. (d) The reed canary-grass, Ptialaris arundi- 
nacea. 
The oat-grass and the sword-grass and the bulrush in the 
pool. Tennyson, May-Queen. 
Red sword-grass moth. See rail. 
sword-guard (sord'gard), n. That part of the 
hilt of a sword which protects the hand (see 
hilt) ; especially, the tsuba of Japanese art. 
sword-hand (sord'hand), n. The hand which 
holds the sword; hence, the right hand in gen- 
eral. Compare sword-arm. 
SWOrd-hilt (sord'hilt), n. The hilt or handle of 
a sword. See hilt, n., l.-inside of a sword-hilt, 
outside of a sword-hilt. See inside, outside. 
SWOrdick (sor'dik), n. [Perhaps connected with 
Dan. sort = E. smart, black.] The spotted gun- 
nel, Mursenoides gunnellm. [Orkney.] 
swording (sor'ding), n. [Verbal n. of sword*, 
'.] Slashing with a sword. [Rare.] 
sword-knot (sord'not), n. A ribbon or tassel 
tied to the hilt of a sword. It originated in the use 
of a thong or lace to secure the hilt to the wrist and some 
sword-knots can still be used in that way. 
I pull'd off my sword-knot, and with that bound up a 
coronetof ivy, laurel, and flowers. Steele, Lying Lover, f 1. 
6120 
sword-law (sord'la), n. Government by the 
sword or by force; military violence. 
So violence 
Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, 
Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. 
Milton, P. L., xi. 672. 
SWOrdless (sord'les), . [< sword* + -less.] 
Destitute of a sword. 
With swordless belt and fetter'd hand. 
Byron, Parisina, ix. 
sword-lily (sord'lil'i), . See gladiolus. 
swordman (sord'man), n. ; pi. swordmen (-men). 
[< ME. siverdman; (sword* + man.'] A swords- 
man; hence, by extension, a soldier. 
Worthy fellows ; and like to prove most sinewy sword- 
men. Shak., All's Well, ii. 1. 62. 
SWOrdmanship (sord'man-ship), n. [< sword- 
man + -ship."] Same as swordsmanship. E.Dow- 
den, Shelley, I. 114. [Bare.] 
SWOrd-mat (sord'mat), 11. A woven mat used 
for chafing-gear, boat-gripes, etc., in which the 
warp is beaten close with a wooden sword. 
sword-play (sord'pla), n. 1. Fencing; the art 
or practice of attack and defense by means of 
the sword. 
Lord Russell . . . has always been one of the readiest 
and most efficient of debaters, possessing that faculty of 
keen and direct retort which is like skilful sword-play. 
T. W. Hit/ijinson, Eng. Statesmen, p. 146. 
2. A sword-dance. 
They [Gauls in Britain] have but one kind of show, and 
they use it at every gathering. Naked lads, who know the 
game, leap among swords and in front of spears. Practice 
gives cleverness, and cleverness grace : but it is not a 
trade, or a thing done for hire ; however venturesome the 
sport, their only payment is the delight of the crowd. 
Tacitus (trans.), quoted in Elton's Origins of Eng. Hist., 
[p. 123. 
sword-player (sord'pla'er), n. One skilled in 
sword-play ; a fencer. 
Vaschus Nunnez therefore, . . . settinge them in order 
of battell after his swordeplayers fasshion, puffed vppe 
with pryde, placed his souldiers as pleased hym in the for- 
warde and rereward. 
Peter Martyr (tr. in Eden's First Books on America, ed. 
[Arber, p. 115). 
Come, my brave sword-player, to what active use 
Was all this steel provided 1 B. J onion, Catiline, v. 4. 
sword-pommel (sord^um^el), n. See pommel, 
1(). 
sword-proof (sord'prof), a. Capable of resist- 
ing a blow or thrust of a sword. 
The helmets of the German army are made sword-proof 
by a lining of cane wicker-work. 
Spans' Encyc. Manuf., 1. 598. 
SWOrd-rack (sord'rak), re. A kind of stand upon 
which gentlemen place their swords at night. 
It is usually of wood, either plain or lacquered, and has 
notches to hold one or more swords; sometimes the 
stand is made to fold together with hinges, for easy 
transportation. 
SWOrd-sedge (sord'sej), . See Lepidosperma. 
sword-shaped (sord'shapt), a. Shaped like a 
sword; ensiform; xiphioid. 
sword-shrimp (sord'shrimp), . 1 . A European 
slender-bodied shrimp, Pasiphiea xivado. 2. 
A Japanese shrimp, Pencus ensis. 
swordsman (sordz'man), n. ; pi. swordsmen 
(-men). [< sword's, possessive of sword*, + 
man."] One who uses a sword habitually ; espe- 
cially, one skilled in the use of the sword. 
I was the best swordsman in the garrison. Dickens. 
swordsmanship (sordz'man-ship), n. [(swords- 
man + -ship.'] Skill and dexterity in the use 
of the sword. 
An Irish Druid such as Cathbad, however, is like Wai- 
namoinen in his mastery of swordsmanship as well as 
witchcraft. The Century, XXXVII. 593. 
SWOrd-stick (sord'stik), n. A sword-cane. 
Imp. Diet. 
SWOrdtail (sord'tal), n. 1. A crustacean of 
the group Xiphosura, as the horseshoe- or king- 
crab. See cuts under horseshoe-crab and Limu- 
lus. 2. Any bug of the genus Uroxiplius, as 
U. caryse, the walnut swordtail. 3. Same as 
sword-bearer (c). 
sword-tailed (sord'tald), . Having a long and 
sharp telson, as the king-crab; xiphosurous, as 
a crustacean. See cut under horseshoe-crab. 
SWOre (swor). Preterit of wear 1 . 
sworn (sworn). Past participle of swear* ; as an 
adjective, bound by or as by an oath Sworn 
broker, a broker in the city of London admitted to the 
office and employment of a broker upon taking an oath 
in the court of aldermen to execute his duties between 
party and party without fraud or collusion, to the best of 
his skill. From the time of Edward I. brokers in London 
have been required to be thus licensed, including stock-, 
bill-, and exchange-brokers, and merchants' brokers gen- 
erally ; but ship-brokers, auctioneers, etc., are not deemed 
within the rule. Sworn brothers, brothers or compan- 
S- wrench 
ions in arms who, according to the laws of chivalry, vowed 
to share their dangers or successes with each other ; hence, 
close intimates or companions. 
I am sworn brother, sweet, 
To grim Necessity ; and he and I 
Will keep a league till death. 
Shak., Xich. II., v. 1. 20. 
Sworn enemies, enemies who have taken an oath or vow 
of mutual hatred; hence, determined or irreconcilable 
enemies. Sworn friends, friends bound by oath to be 
true to one another ; hence, close or firm friends. 
SWOtt, SWOtet, . Middle English forms of 
sweet. 
SWOUghH, . [< (a) ME. swouglien, swowen, 
swogT/en, stmghen (pret. *swuughed, sicowed, 
souyhed, soglied, soitgcd), < AS. sicoyian = Goth. 
"swogjan, in eomp.ga-su:ogjan,uf-su:dgja, sigh; 
(b) ME. swouyhcn, swowen (pret. swcy, sieeg, pp. 
swowen, swowen, iswogen,iswowen), < AS. swogan 
(pret. swedg, pp. geswogen) = OS. stvogan, roar, 
move with a rushing sound. Hence, by ab- 
sorption of the w (as also in sword*, where the 
w is retained in the spelling), sough (whence 
ult. the noun stiff*, surf*): see sought, v. and n. 
Hence also swown, swoun, swoon, swound; also 
swey. In the sense 'faint, swoon,' the verb is 
prob.of diff.origin, confused with swough, 'roar,' 
through the intermediate sense 'sigh.' The 
unstable phonetic form of the verb, reflected 
in the variants sough 1 , suff*, surf 1 , has assisted 
the confusion.] 1. To make a loud noise, as 
falling water, the waves of the sea, the wind, 
etc.; roar; rumble. 
That whate swoirynge of watyr, and syngynge of byrdez, 
It myghte salve hyme of sore, that sounde was nevere ! 
Morte Arthure (E. E. T. 8.), L 931. 
2. To make a low murmuring noise; murmur; 
rustle. 
Swoghyng of swete ayre, swalyng of briddes. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), L 1061. 
3. To sigh : said of a person. 
swough 1 !, n. [( ME. swough, swogh, swoghe, 
sivowe, swow, swouwe; < swough*, v."] 1. A loud 
noise; a roar; a roaring; a sough, as of falling 
water, the waves of the sea, the wind, etc. 
Into the foreste forthe he droghe, 
And of the see he herde a swoghe. 
US. Lincoln A. i. 17, f. 140. (Halliwett.) 
A forest . . . 
In which ther ran a rumbel and a swough, 
As though a storm should bresten every bough. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 1121. 
2. A low murmuring noise ; a murmur. 3. A 
sigh. 4. A swoon. 
He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere, 
He siketh with ful many a sory swogh, 
Chaucer, Miller's Tale, 1. 433. 
What she sayde more in that swow 
I may not telle you as now. 
Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 216. 
SWOUgh 2 t, Same as souglfl. Halliwell. 
SWpun, v . and n. An obsolete or dialectal form 
of swoon. Compare swound. 
SWOUnd (swound ),v.i. [A later form of swoun, 
now swoon, with excrescent d as in sound 6 , 
round?, expound, etc. Hence, by absorption of 
the w, the obs. or dial, sotmrf 6 .] To swoon. 
[Obsolete or prov. Eng.] 
Wounded with griefe, hee sounded with weaknesse. 
Lyly, Euphues and his England, p. 336. 
At which ruthful prospect I fell down and sounded. 
JUiddleton, Father Hubbard's Tales. 
Pray, bring a little sneezing powder in your pocket, 
For I fear I swound when I see blood. 
Beau, and, Fl., Knight of Malta, ii. 4. 
SWOUnd (swound), n. [A later form of swoun, 
now swoon, as in the verb: see swound, t>.] A 
swoon. Coleridge. [Obsolete or prov. Eng.] 
'swounds, 'swouns (swoundz, swounz), interj. 
[Also, more usually, sounds."] A corruption or 
abbreviation of God's wounds: used as a sort 
of oath or confirmation. 
'Swounds, what 's here ! JUiddleton, Chaste Maid, ii. 2. 
'Swouns! I shall never survive the idea ! 
Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, x. 
SWOW 1 !, v. and n. See sicough 1 . 
SWOW 2 (swou), r. [A mitigated form of swear; 
cf. MMHtl.] To swear (a mild oath). 
By ginger, ef I'd ha known half I know now, 
When I waz to Congress, I wouldn't, I swow, 
Hev let 'em cair on so high-minded an sarsy, 
'Thout some show o' wut you may call vicy-varsy. 
Lmeell, Biglow Papers, 2d ser., v. 
SWOWnt, *' and n. A Middle English form of 
swoon. 
S-wrench (es'rench), n. A wrench or spanner 
of an 8-shape, with an adjustable jaw at each 
end at different angles. The shape enables it 
to reach parts not so readily approached by the 
ordinary wrench. 
