I. ˈswag, -aa(ə)g, -aig verb
( swagged ; swagged ; swagging ; swags )
Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian svaga to sway, svagga to walk unsteadily, Old Norse sveggja to cause to sway, veer, swag; akin to Middle Low German swacken to rock, reel, Old High German swingan to swing — more at swing
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to sway heavily or unsteadily
their shutters swag — Joseph Mitchell
b. : to swing or tip out of line : lurch , tilt VI
a sudden crosscurrent caused the ship to swag
trees swagging from constant strong winds
c. : to waver in making a decision : vacillate
2. : to hang heavily from or as if from weight : droop , sag
his heavy sensual face swagged — W.J.Locke
the moon swagged in the air — Allen Tate
transitive verb
1. : to cause to sway or lurch
swagged the rowboat until it capsized
2. : to cause to sag
the snow was starting to swag down the old roof
3.
a. : to adorn (as clothing) with swags
a taffeta skirt blows out below the swagged hipline — Harper's Bazaar
b. : to arrange (as drapery) with swags
the swagged plush curtains — Marcia Davenport
II. noun
( -s )
1. obsolete : a blustering person
2. : an irregular swaying movement : lurch
yawed to the deep inner swag of the river — R.P.Warren
3. : a heavy fall : thud
4.
a. : a representation (as of urns or fruit or draperies) used to decorate furniture, walls, pewter, or brass : festoon
the carven swags of Renaissance decoration — Britain Today
b. : a suspended cluster (as of branches or flowers)
great swags of lilac and laburnum spill over ancient, weathered walls — advt
decking his premises … with swags of mammoth royal-purple ermine tails — Mollie Panter-Downes
especially : a cluster of evergreen branches arranged as a decoration for a doorway and used especially at Christmas
a pine swag … trimmed with kumquats and bells — Frederic Morley
c.
(1) : a decorative drapery that is fastened at two points so that the middle hangs in crescent-shaped folds — compare valance
(2) : a decorative draped fold (as on a dress)
dramatic swags of draping marking the slim skirt — advt
d. : something resembling such a swag especially in curved outline
our rocks stand midway between two swags of this uneven high-water line — Peter Mayne
5.
a. : goods acquired by unlawful means : booty , loot
the swag from this and other forms of graft — F.L.Allen
b. : valuable articles or goods
will find the equitable division of the swag … a problem — Horace Sutton
c. : money , lucre
any listener who may lose out on swag being offered by another network — Saul Carson
6. : a large quantity or amount
watched them putting away great swags and wedges … of starch — Elizabeth Taylor
spent a big swag of ratepayers' money — Sydney (Australia) Bulletin
7. : a depression in the earth often filled with water
two brothers … were drowned while bathing in an old colliery swag — Pall Mall Gazette
8. chiefly Australia : a pack of personal belongings carried especially by a swagman
III. adjective
: sagging , lax
men with swag watch chains — H.E.Bates
an unsuccessful poet, swag in mind as in belly — Christopher Morley