Obs. (exc. dial.). Forms: 1 swic, ? swica, swice, 3–4 swike, 3–5 swik, (swiche), 4 suike, suik, (suiche), squike, squyke, 4–5 swyke, 5 swyk, swyck. [OE. swic ? n., chiefly in compounds, swice str. m., escape, outcome, issue, deceit, treachery, stumbling-block, swice wk. f., or swica wk. m., trap: cf. MHG. swîch, swîche deceit, and see SWIKE v.]
1. Deceit, deception, treachery; an act of deception, a trick.
In ME., withouten or but swike was used as a metrical tag.
In mod. Sc. and north. dial. in the forms swike, swyke, swick, with the sense ‘cheat, deception’: also in Sc. phr. the swick of, the responsibility for (something blameworthy).
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., III. vii. 114. He … ealle þa cyningas mid biswice [Cott. MS. mid his swice] ofsloʓ.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 445. Ðe deuel is tus ðe fox ilik mið iuele breides & wið swik.
c. 1250. Hymn to God, 19, in Trin. Coll. Hom., App. 258. He vs bouchte wið his blod of þe feondes swiche.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 818 (Cott.). Þe find … Þat wit his suik bi-suak adam. Ibid., 2097. Asie es, wit-outen suike, Sua mikel als europ and affrike. Ibid., 6514. ‘Þi folk,’ he said, ‘has don a suik.’
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VII. viii. 1616 (Wemyss MS.). He gat nocht þat bischoprik Nocht wiþ lawte, bot with swik.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, I. 1031. Bot always serf hyme elyk, Quhill þow haf tan thi leif but swik.
† 2. A snare, trap. Obs.
This use is perh. continued under the form SWEEK, q.v. (where, however, another explanation has been suggested). Cf. SWICKLE.
a. 1100. Gloss Aldheim, I. 4982 (Napier, 127/2), Decipulam, swican.
13[?]. Cour de L., 4081. Under the brygge ther is a swyke, Corven clos, joynand queyntlike.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 677. Under that than was a swyke, That made Syr Ywain to myslike; His horse fote toched thareon, Than fel the port-culis onone.
14[?]. Guy Warw. (Camb. MS.), 7580. He ys black as any pyck, And also felle as a lyon in his swyck.
c. 1475. Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 703/7. Hec discipula [= decipula], a swyke.
