swolow

Inherited from Old English ġeswelg, swelh, from Proto-West Germanic *swelg, swalgi, from Proto-Germanic *swelgaz, *swalgiz.

The vocalism has either developed similarly to or been influenced by swolwen (“to swallow”).

• swelewe, swelhu, swelogh, swelow, swelw, swelwe, swolgh, swolghe, swolowe, swolowhe, swolwe, swolwȝ, swolwh
• swallough, swalow, swalowe (Late Middle English); swalghe, swalle (Catholicon Anglicum); swelth, swelwhe (Promptorium Parvulorum)
• swolȝ (Cheshire); swolȝe (Essex); zuelȝ (Kent); sual, swalgh, swall, swelgh (Northern, Northwest Midland); swolouȝ (Southwest Midland)

• IPA^(key): /ˈswɔlɔu̯/, /ˈswɔluː/, /ˈswɔliu̯/, (non-Midland, East Anglia, East Saxon) /ˈswɛl-/, (Late Middle English) /ˈswal-/
• IPA^(key): /swal(x)/, /swɛlx/ (Northern)

swolow (plural swolowes)

1. The throat or esophagus (passage for food):
   1. The sensation or capability of taste.
   2. (rare) A mouthful tasted or swallowed.
2. A whirlpool or eddy; water that moves against the current or swirls.
3. A current or stream; the flowing of water.
4. An abyss; a deep natural hole or pit.
5. (rare) A drain or gap; an artificial opening

• English: swallow; swelly (dialectal swally)
• Middle Scots: swelch; swellie, swallie
  • Scots: swallie, swally

• “swolwe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Swallow, sb.²”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume IX, Part 2 (Su–Th), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 275.

swolow

1. alternative form of swolwen