Etymology From Middle English swappen (“to swap”), originally meaning "to hurl" or "to strike", the word alludes to striking hands together when making an exchange; probably from Old English *swappian, a secondary form of Old English swāpan (“to swoop”). Cognate with German schwappen (“to slosh, slop”). Compare also Middle English swippen (“to strike, hit”), from Old English swipian (“to scourge, strike, beat, lash”), Old Norse svipa (“to swoop, flash, whip, look after, look around”). More at swipe.
1
To exchange or give (something) in an non-normal exchange (for something else).
In an effort to provide more permanent accommodations, employers may offer employees the opportunity either to swap jobs with a colleague or to transfer to a new position.1998, Michael Wolf with Bruce Friedman and Daniel Sutherland, Religion in the workplace, page 98:
Chief watched these goings-on without pleasure, and waved them off in disgust when the smarmiest of the two suggested he might wish to swap that elk's tooth for this jug of fine rye whiskey.2007, Lloyd Zimpel, A Season of Fire and Ice:
1 more example
The Shah wanted to swap oil for more arms.2011, Andrew Scott Cooper, The Oil Kings: How the U.S., Iran, and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East, page 253:
And he whipped his sword out of its scabbard, and swapped off the pudding from the black knight's nose. Unfortunately (for him) he swapped off a good bit of the nose, too.1954, Edward Eager, Half Magic:
"Maybe Apes will grow honest, Sister," said Edmund. "But, by the Lion, if he breaks it again, it may be in such time and place that any of us could swap off his head in clean battle."1954, C. S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy:
3
Obsolete To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.
4
Obsolete To descend or fall; to rush hastily or violently.
Etymology From the verb swap. First attested in 1620.
1
An exchange of two comparable things.
I e’en changed it, as occasion served, with the skippers o’ Dutch luggers and French vessels, for gin and brandy[…] a gude swap too, between what cheereth the soul of man and that which dingeth it clean out of his body1819, Sir Walter Scott, Tales of My Landlord, The Bride of Lammermoor:
Flores' nephews were each sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment in 2017 for conspiring to import cocaine, but they were released in 2022 by the Biden Administration as part of a prisoner swap with Venezuela.2026 January 5, Callum Sutherland, “Who Is Cilia Flores? What to Know About Maduro’s Wife Amid Fall of Venezuela's First Couple”, in TIME, archived from the original on 06 Jan 2026:
2
Business, Finance A financial derivative in which two parties agree to exchange one stream of non-normal cashflow against another stream.
A social meal at a restaurant between two university societies, usually involving drinking and banter; commonly associated with fining and pennying; equivalent to a crewdate at Oxford University.