swoop
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: swūp
ipa: /ˈswuːp/
enpr: sūp
ipa: /ˈsuːp/
rhymes: -uːp
Forms: form: swoops
form: swooping
form: swooped
form: swooped
Etymology: From Middle English swopen, from Old English swāpan (“to sweep”). Doublet of swaip. See also sweep, which was probably the basis for analogical restoration of /w/ in this word.
Senses: examples: text: The lone eagle swooped down into the lake, snatching its prey, a small fish.
glosses: To fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosedive.
examples: text: The dog had enthusiastically swooped down on the bone.
text: There was a person called Nana who ruled the nursery. Sometimes she took no notice of the playthings lying about, and sometimes, for no reason whatever, she went swooping about like a great wind and hustled them away in cupboards.
ref: 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
text: Bridge of Weir: Protection of the site of the former Kilmacolm branch station (closed on January 3 1983) has been lifted, and developers have swooped in with plans for new housing.
ref: 2022 January 12, Howard Johnston, “Regional News: Scotland”, in RAIL, number 948, page 19:
glosses: To move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something.
examples: text: And his Eagles, which can with the same ease as a kite swoops a chicken, snatch up a strong built Chamber of wood 12 foot square, & well crampt & fortified with Iron, with all its furniture, & a man besides, & carry it to the Clouds?
ref: Quoted in 1971, The Scriblerian (volumes 4-5, page 2)
glosses: To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.
examples: text: Thus the Phyſitian looks with another Eye on the Medicinal hearb, then the grazing Oxe, which ſwoops it in with the common graſs: […]
ref: 1661, Joseph Glanvill, “An Apology for Philosophy”, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC, page 247:
text: And now at last you come to swoop it all.
ref: 1670, John Dryden, The Conquest of Granada:
glosses: To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
examples: text: Proude Tamer swoopes along, with such a lustie traine / As fits so brave a flood two Countries that divides: […]
ref: 1612, Michael Drayton, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes] for M[athew] Lownes; I[ohn] Browne; I[ohn] Helme; I[ohn] Busbie, →OCLC, page 6:
glosses: To pass with pomp; to sweep.
examples: text: He was forever diving into dustbins or swooping on to the ground for cigarette ends.
ref: 1989, Michael Bettsworth, Marking Time: A Prison Memoir, page 32:
text: Swooping is picking up discarded cigarette butts from the exercise yard and anywhere else they can be found.
ref: 2015, Noel 'Razor' Smith, The Criminal Alphabet: An A-Z of Prison Slang:
glosses: To search the ground for discarded cigarette butts that can be made into new cigarettes.