swough

Middle English

Etymology

See swoon and sough.

Noun

swough (plural swoughs)

1. A strong movement or onrush.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

     He siketh with full many a sorry swough.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum 4”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book V, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaf 83, recto; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, page 165, lines 19-20:

     Thenne the dragon flewe awey al on a heyȝte / and come doune with suche a swough and smote the bore on the rydge

     Then the dragon flew away to a great height, and came down with such a "swoosh", and smote the bear on the ridge

2. A sound; a groan or moan; a sough.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

     He siketh with full many a sorry swough.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

3. A swoon.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Squyers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

     Tho shrighte this faucoun moore yet pitously Than ever she dide, and fll to grounde anon And lith aswowne, deed, and lyk a stoon, Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

References

• “swough”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “swough”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.