swag

swag
swag1
/swag/, n., v., swagged, swagging.
n.
1. a suspended wreath, garland, drapery, or the like, fastened up at or near each end and hanging down in the middle; festoon.
2. a wreath, spray, or cluster of foliage, flowers, or fruit.
3. a festoon, esp. one very heavy toward the center.
4. a swale.
5. a swaying or lurching movement.
v.i.
6. to move heavily or unsteadily from side to side or up and down; sway.
7. to hang loosely and heavily; sink down.
v.t.
8. to cause to sway, sink, or sag.
9. to hang or adorn with swags.
[1520-30; perh. < Scand; cf. Norw svaga, svagga to sway, rock]
swag2
/swag/, n., v., swagged, swagging.
n.
1. Slang.
a. plunder; booty.
b. money; valuables.
2. Australian. a traveler's bundle containing personal belongings, cooking utensils, food, or the like.
v.i.
3. Australian. to travel about carrying one's bundle of personal belongings.
[1860-65; special uses of SWAG1]

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also called  Festoon,  

      in architecture and decoration, carved ornamental motif consisting of stylized flowers, fruit, foliage, and cloth, tied together with ribbons that sag in the middle and are attached at both ends. The distinction is sometimes made between a swag and a festoon by limiting the former to festoons entirely made up of folds of cloth.

      The swag, or festoon, usually carved from wood or marble, or sometimes modeled in plaster in heavy relief, is a prominent decorative motif in all classical architecture and decoration. It was freely used by both the ancient Greeks and Romans. It was also especially popular among decorators of the Renaissance, many of whom also employed painted swags. The ends of the swag are sometimes held by carved animals, such as bulls or lions, or they may simply be tied into bows with the ribbon ends hanging down.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • swag — swag·er; swag·ger·er; swag·gie; swag·man; swag; swag·ger; horn·swag·gle; horn·swag·gled; swag·ger·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • Swag — Swag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Swagged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Swagging}.] [Cf. Icel. sveggja, sveigja to bend, to sway, Norw. svaga to sway. See {Sway}.] 1. To hang or move, as something loose and heavy; to sway; to swing. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swag — [swag] vi. swagged, swagging [< or akin to Norw svagga, to sway (in walking), SWAGGER] 1. to sway or lurch 2. to hang down; sag vt. 1. to decorate with swags 2. to hang in a swag n …   English World dictionary

  • Swag — Swag, n. 1. A swaying, irregular motion. [1913 Webster] 2. A burglar s or thief s booty; boodle. [Cant or Slang] Charles Reade. [1913 Webster] 3. [Australia] (a) A tramping bushman s luggage, rolled up either in canvas or in a blanket so as to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swag — (v.) to move heavily or unsteadily, 1520s, probably from O.N. sveggja to swing, sway, cognate with O.E. swingan to swing (see SWING (Cf. swing)). The noun sense of ornamental festoon is first found 1794. Colloquial sense of promotional material… …   Etymology dictionary

  • swag — [swæg] n [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: swag to sway, hang down (16 19 centuries), probably from a Scandinavian language] 1.) [U] old fashioned informal goods that someone has stolen = ↑loot 2.) a) a large piece of material that is hung above a window …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • swag — index contraband, spoils Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • swag — [ swæg ] noun 1. ) uncount INFORMAL OLD FASHIONED stolen goods 2. ) count AUSTRALIAN a bag or a roll of cloth containing a traveler s personal possessions …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • swag — n *spoil, plunder, loot, booty, prize …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • swag — ► NOUN 1) an ornamental festoon of flowers, fruit, and greenery. 2) a curtain or drape fastened to hang in a drooping curve. 3) informal money or goods taken by a thief or burglar. 4) Austral./NZ a traveller s or miner s bundle of personal… …   English terms dictionary

  • swag — In British thieves slang swag was a thief s plunder or booty; a quantity of goods unlawfully acquired . The term appears in Grose s 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, where one of the definitions is any quantity of goods . James Hardy Vaux,… …   Australian idioms

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