I. ˈswil verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English swilen, from Old English swillan, swilian to wash out, rinse, gargle; perhaps akin to Old English swelgan to swallow — more at swallow
transitive verb
1. : wash , drench , rinse
swilled my hands in the enamel bowl on the washhouse table — E.L.Thomas
especially : to wash by flushing with water
the amount of water used for swilling cowsheds and pigsties should not be more than is necessary — C.B.Palmer
a pint of bitter would swill the dryness of the barley off his lips — G.A.Wagner
2. : to supply abundantly or fill with (as an intoxicant)
swilling themselves with ale — George Eliot
3.
a. : to drink great drafts of : guzzle
were swilling down gin … and talking with loud jocosity — Bruce Marshall
b. : to devour greedily
dogs who swill their food from the ground — Norman Kelman
4. : to pour (a liquid) freely
swill out drinks
5. : to cause (liquid) to swish in a container — used with about or around
swills a little hot water around in the pot before steeping the tea
6.
[ swill (II) ]
: to feed (as a pig) with swill
intransitive verb
1. : to drink or eat freely, greedily, or to excess ; especially : to drink liquor in large drafts or to excess
as bad as the rest of them — swilling in taverns … in planting time — Clements Ripley
2. : to flow in a free, forcible, or turbulent manner : swash
a wave swilled along the steps — Haldane Macfall
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a.
(1) : a semiliquid food for animals (as swine) composed of the animal or vegetable refuse of kitchens, markets, or stores, mixed with water or skimmed or sour milk : slop , wash
(2) : a hog ration made of distillery slop
b. : food refuse : garbage
2. : something suggestive of slop or garbage : something evoking disgust : hogwash , refuse
dismissed the whole literary production of his rival as swill
treated them shabbily like swill
3. : an act or instance of swilling: as
a. : a draft of liquor
b. : the swash of a liquid
heard the swill of the flood waters
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English sqwill, swill
: a large shallow basket roughly made (as of unpeeled willow) and used especially in England for fish (as to transfer them from boat to shore or to measure them)