Obs. Also 7 swarfe, swarff. [Variant of SWARTH sb.1: see TH (6).]

1

  1.  = SWARD sb. 2.

2

1599.  Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 284/1. Lie Elie-law et totum lie swarf ei adjacentem. Ibid. (1603), 524/2. Lie swarff, wrak et wair eisdem adjacentibus.

3

1664.  O. Heywood, Diaries, etc. (1883), III. 84. The whole field hath a little swarfe with grasse at the top.

4

  2.  fig. Surface. nonce-use.

5

a. 1599.  Rollock, Lect. Passion, etc., xli. (1616), 408. His joye is light, and proceedes onely from the swarfe of the soule.

6