[f. SWAG v. + -ING1.]
Swaggyng in the following quot. may attest the existence of this word for the 15th century, but the true reading is no doubt swagynge (i.e., SWAGING, alleviation), as in MS. Rawl. Poet. 32. (cf. v.r. swagenyng).
a. 1412[?]. Lydg., Fab. Duorum Merc. (1897), 511. O weepyng Mirre, now lat thy teerys reyne In to myn ynke so clubbyd in my penne, That rowthe in swaggyng abroode make it renne.
1. The action of swaying or rocking to and fro; motion up and down or backwards and forwards; occas. wagging (of the head).
1566. Studley, trans. Seneca’s Agam., III. She [sc. a ship] with her swaggyng full of sea to bottom lowe doth sinke.
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 128. To prevent their wrecking, swagging or dislocating.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, XI. vii. ¶ 5. A wise swagging to and fro of my head.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 829. In order to prevent the swagging or sinking of the head or falling style.
1853. Sir H. Douglas, Milit. Bridges, 317. By bracing the beams together, and preventing the bridge from swagging.
fig. 1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XII. xii. (1872), IV. 272. In this manner, Walpole … had balanced the Parliamentary swaggings and clashings.
† b. fig. Vacillation. Obs.
1636. Featly, Clavis Myst., lvii. 778. The people … after much swagging on both sides,… came to fix upon this middle way.
2. Sagging down.
1624. Wotton, Archit., in Reliq. (1651), 224. Because so laid, they [sc. brick or squared stones] are more apt in swagging down, to pierce with their points, then in the jacent Posture.
1792. J. Belknap, Hist. New Hampsh., III. 75. It is usual for the surveyor to make large measure…. Some allow one in thirty, for the swagging of the chain.
1800. Trans. Soc. Arts, XVIII. 273. A hollow cast-iron roller … in order to bear up the rope, and to prevent it from swagging.
