swinge

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈswinj

swinged; swingeing

transitive verb

chiefly dialectal

: beat, scourge

swinge

2 of 2

verb (2)

swinged; swingeing

transitive verb

dialect

: singe, scorch

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English swengen to shake, from Old English swengan; akin to Old English swingan

Verb (2)

alteration of singe

First Known Use

Verb (1)

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1590, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of swinge was in the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

swing door

swinge

swingeing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Swinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swinge. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

Is it 'autumn' or 'fall'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Popular in Wordplay

swinge

verb (1)

verb (2)

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

The Vocabulary Test From Hell

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

insinuate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate