swough

Middle English

Etymology

See swoon and sough.

Noun

swough (plural swoughs)

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
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)
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.