swallow
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈswɒl.əʊ/
note: of Canada
ipa: /ˈswɑ.loʊ/
note: of Canada
ipa: [ˈswɑ.loʊ̯]
rhymes: -ɒləʊ
Forms: form: swallows
form: swalow
form: swolow
Etymology: From Middle English swolowen, swolwen, swolȝen, swelwen, swelȝen, from Old English swelgan, from Proto-West Germanic *swelgan, from Proto-Germanic *swelganą (“to swallow, revel, devour”), from Proto-Indo-European *swelk- (“to gulp”). Cognate with Dutch zwelgen (“to revel, carouse, guzzle”), German schwelgen (“to delight, indulge”), Swedish svälja (“to swallow, gulp”), Icelandic svelgja (“to swallow”), Old English swillan, swilian (“to swill, wash out, gargle”). See also swill.
The noun is from Middle English swelwe, swolwe, from Old English swelh, swelg (“gulf, chasm”) and ġeswelge (“gulf, chasm, abyss, whirlpool”), both from Proto-West Germanic *swelg, *swalgi, from Proto-Germanic *swelgaz, *swalgiz. Cognate with Old English swiliġe (“pit”), Scots swelch, swellie, swallie (“an abyss in the sea, whirpool”), Middle Low German swelch (“whirlpool, eddy”), Dutch zwelg (“gorge, chasm, gullet, throat”), Old Norse svelgr (“whirlpool, current, stream”).
Senses: glosses: A deep chasm or abyss in the earth.
examples: text: The door burst wide open, and he saw nothing but a gaping jaw extending from the threshold up to the lintel. "There is a mouthful for you," said the youngster, and threw the pauper boy into the swallow; "taste that! But let me see now who you are! Perhaps you are an old acquaintance?" And so it was; it was the devil who was about again.
ref: 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 103:
glosses: The mouth and throat; that which is used for swallowing; the gullet.
examples: text: He took the aspirin with a single swallow of water.
text: She took a swallow of milk and made a face. "This milk is blinky."
ref: 1978, Tom Reamy, Blind Voices:
glosses: The amount swallowed in one gulp; the act of swallowing.
examples: text: In addition, j-lock shackles can pass through the swallow of a modern genoa track even with a sheet in tension already there, and this is very useful when preparing a sail change on the same tack.
ref: 2008, Danilo Fabbroni, Rigging: Rig Your Boat Right for Racing or Cruising:
text: Blocks are made in a great variety of patterns. All are designed to be used one way. The rope goes through the swallow.
ref: 2012, Percy W. Blandford, Practical Knots and Ropework, page 350:
text: When specifying blocks, excessive friction is avoided by ensuring (a) that the diameter of the sheave is at least twice the circumference of the rope or six times its diameter (preferably more), and (b) that the 'swallow' of the block is substantially wider than the diameter of the rope, to avoid rubbing against the inside of the cheeks.
ref: 2012, H.G. Hasler, J.K. McLeod, Practical Junk Rig, page 171:
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: The opening in a pulley block between the sheave and shell through which the rope passes.
glosses: Any of various carbohydrate-based dishes that are swallowed without much chewing, commonly paired and eaten with various types of soup.
Derived terms: swallow hole
Related terms: dysphagia