swag

views updated May 11 2018

swag / swag/ • n. 1. an ornamental festoon of flowers, fruit, and greenery: ribbon-tied swags of flowers. ∎  a carved or painted representation of such a festoon: fine plaster swags. ∎  a curtain or piece of fabric fastened so as to hang in a drooping curve.2. inf. money or goods taken by a thief or burglar: garden machinery is the most popular swag. ∎  inf. a large number, amount, or variety: a swag of events including fleece competitions, poultry and water fowl competitions, and a tractor pull.3. Austral./NZ a traveler's or miner's bundle of personal belongings.• v. (swagged, swag·ging) [tr.] 1. arrange in or decorate with a swag or swags of fabric: swag the fabric gracefully over the curtain tie-backs| [as adj.] (swagged) the swagged contours of nomads' tents. 2. Austral./NZ travel with one's personal belongings in a bundle: swagging it in Queensland swagging my way up to the Northern Territory.3. [intr.] chiefly poetic/lit. hang heavily: the crinkly old hide swags here and there. ∎  sway from side to side: the stout chief sat swagging from one side of the carriage to the other.

swag

views updated May 21 2018

swag (dial.) swaying movement XVII; ornamental wreath or festoon XVIII; thief's booty XIX. of obscure orig.; cf. Norw. swagga sway.
So swag vb. (dial.) move or cause to move unsteadily XVI; sink down XVII.

Swag

views updated Jun 11 2018

Swag

quantity of money or goods, usually stolen; a bundle of personal belongings carried by a tramp, miner, or traveller in the bush, 1864; a decorative festoon of flowers, 1794; of fruit and flowers, 1813.

swag

views updated May 21 2018

swag. Festoon on two supports with the suspended element resembling drapery.