a. [ Compar. Swifter superl. Swiftest. ] [ AS. swift; akin to swāpan to sweep, swipu a whip; cf. swīfan to move quickly, to revolve. See Swoop, v. i., and cf. Swivel, Squib. ] 1. Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt. [ 1913 Webster ]

My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James i. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swift of dispatch and easy of access. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

And bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Pet. ii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of short continuance; passing away quickly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Swift is often used in the formation of compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, swift-darting, swift-footed, swift-winged, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Quick; fleet; speedy; rapid; expeditious. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Swiftly. [ Obs. or Poetic ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ply swift and strong the oar. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The current of a stream. [ R. ] Walton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common European swift (Cypselus apus syn. Micropus apus) nests in church steeples and under the tiles of roofs, and is noted for its rapid flight and shrill screams. It is called also black martin, black swift, hawk swallow, devil bird, swingdevil, screech martin, and shriek owl. The common American, or chimney, swift (Chaetura pelagica) has sharp rigid tips to the tail feathers. It attaches its nest to the inner walls of chimneys, and is called also chimney swallow. The Australian swift (Chaetura caudacuta) also has sharp naked tips to the tail quills. The European Alpine swift (Cypselus melba) is whitish beneath, with a white band across the breast. The common Indian swift is Cypselus affinis. See also Palm swift, under Palm, and Tree swift, under Tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. [ Cf. Swivel. ] A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Swivel. ] (Naut.) (a) A rope used to retain the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it. (b) A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally, to strengthen and defend her sides. (c) The forward shroud of a lower mast. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Naut.) To tighten, as slack standing rigging, by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Nimble; fleet. Mir. for Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The courser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small East Indian and Asiatic swifts of the genus Collocalia. Some of the species are noted for furnishing the edible bird's nest. See Illust. under Edible. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a swift manner; with quick motion or velocity; fleetly. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being swift; speed; quickness; celerity; velocity; rapidity; as, the swiftness of a bird; the swiftness of a stream; swiftness of descent in a falling body; swiftness of thought, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]