sweir

¹

/ swiːr /

adjective

1. lazy
2. loath; disinclined

sweir

²

/ swiːr /

verb

1. a Scot word for swear

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweir¹

Old English

Example Sentences

Among Kelly’s Scotch Proverbs, p. 290, we find: “Sweet in the bed, and sweir up in the morning, was never a good housewife;” and in a ballad of the last century quoted by Laing, the editor of that highly curious collection, the Select pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry of Scotland, we meet with the same expression: A Clown is a Clown both at home and abroad, When a Rake he is comely, and sweet in his bed.

From Project Gutenberg

Mebbe the club was ca’d “The Union,” but I wouldnae like to sweir; and mebbe it wasnae, or mebbe only words to that effec’—but I wouldnae care just exac’ly about sweirin’.

From Project Gutenberg

“Wald scho put on this garmond gay, I duret sweir by my seill, That scho woir nevir grene nor gray That set hir half so weill.”

From Project Gutenberg

I’ve seen’s been unco sweir to sally, And at the door-cheeks daff an’ dally, Seen’s daidle thus an’ shilly-shally For near a minute— Sae cauld the wind blew up the valley, The deil was in it!—

From Project Gutenberg

I suppose this’ll be your purpose in your favour, which I could very ill make out; it’s one I would be sweir to baulk you of.

From Project Gutenberg