swig

Etymology

Unknown, mid 16th c. Perhaps connected with Old English swelgan (“to swallow”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /swɪɡ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪɡ

Verb

swig (third-person singular simple present swigs, present participle swigging, simple past and past participle swigged)

1. To drink (usually by gulping or in a greedy or unrefined manner); to quaff.

   Synonyms: chug, gulp, guzzle, quaff

   That sailor can swig whisky with the best of 'em.

2. (obsolete) To suck.
   • 1684, Thomas Creech, Idylliums of Theocritus:

     As sucking Colts leap when they swig the Teat

3. (nautical) To take up the last bit of slack in rigging by taking a single turn around a cleat, then hauling on the line above and below the cleat while keeping tension on the line.

   Synonym: sweating

Noun

swig (plural swigs)

1. (obsolete) Drink, liquor. [1540s–?]
2. (by extension) A long draught from a drink. [from 1620s]

   Synonyms: draught, sip, swill

   take a swig of whisky

   • 1830, [Frederick Marryat], chapter XII, in The King’s Own. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 183:

     Jerry put his brandy bottle at the side of his pillow,—kindly informing him that he would have an opportunity of taking a few more swigs before he went down, for the water was only up to her bends at present.

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Israel Hands”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part V (My Sea Adventure), pages 219–220:

     He looked up, however, at my coming, knocked the neck off the bottle like a man who had done the same thing often, and took a good swig, with his favourite toast of "Here's luck!"

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 12: The Cyclops]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

     And he took the last swig out of the pint.

   • 2014, Michael Griffo, Starfall (The Darkborn Legacy), New York, NY: Kensington Publishing Corporation, →ISBN, page 26:

     Next, he opens up the cupboard over the sink and slams that shut too, only to open another cabinet door that houses what he's looking for, a glass. He pours it full of OJ and takes a huge swig, swallows, and repeats.

3. (obsolete) A person who drinks deeply.
4. (nautical) A tackle with ropes which are not parallel.
5. Warm beer flavoured with spices, lemon, etc.

Anagrams

• WSGI, wigs