swally meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

swally

noun

UK /ˈswalɪ/

Etymology Inherited from Northern Middle English swelgh (“throat, whirlpool, pit”), from Old English ġeswelg, swelh, from Proto-West Germanic *swelg, swalgi, from Proto-Germanic *swelgaz, *swalgiz; thus a dialectal form of swallow (noun).

Northern England, Scotland, Dialectal The act of swallowing.

Northern England, Scotland, Dialectal A throat or gullet.

Scotland, Informal A drink or gulp.

I flung over my box and he asked if I wanted a "swally" of the South African wine bottle he held up before me.1987, Agnes Owens, Like Birds in the Wilderness:

Scotland, Informal A drinking session.

They are the one that will keep the party going, take you on to a good late night swally and if you're lucky, hook you up with some afters.2017 December 15, Jules Boyle, “Roasters you always meet in Glasgow over Christmas”, in Glasgow Live:

swally

verb

Etymology Inherited from Northern Middle English sweligh, from Old English swelgan, from Proto-West Germanic *swelgan, from Proto-Germanic *swelganą; thus a dialectal form of swallow (verb).

Northern England, Scotland, Dialectal To swallow (food etc).