n. [ OE. swalowe, AS. swalewe, swealwe; akin to D. zwaluw, OHG. swalawa, G. schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. svala, Dan. svale. ] 1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The most common North American species are the barn swallow (see under Barn), the cliff, or eaves, swallow (see under Cliff), the white-bellied, or tree, swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and the bank swallow (see under Bank). The common European swallow (Chelidon rustica), and the window swallow, or martin (Chelidon urbica), are familiar species. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves. Ham. Nav. Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swallow plover (Zool.), any one of several species of fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus Glareola, as Glareola orientalis of India; a pratincole. --
Swallow shrike (Zool.), any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic birds of the family Artamiidae, allied to the shrikes but similar to swallows in appearance and habits. The ashy swallow shrike (Artamus fuscus) is common in India. --
Swallow warbler (Zool.), any one of numerous species of East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus Dicaeum. They are allied to the honeysuckers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Swallowed p. pr. & vb. n. Swallowing. ] [ OE. swolewen, swolwen, swolhen, AS. swelgan; akin to D. zwelgen, OHG. swelahan, swelgan, G. schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW. svälja, Dan. svaelge. Cf. Groundsel a plant. ] 1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. [ 1913 Webster ]

As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb -- usually followed by up. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses. Num. xvi. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up. [ 1913 Webster ]

Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To occupy; to take up; to employ. [ 1913 Webster ]

The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume. [ 1913 Webster ]

Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand
Of bounty scattered. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions. “Swallowed his vows whole.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See Absorb. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of swallowing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The gullet, or esophagus; the throat. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Taste; relish; inclination; liking. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I have no swallow for it. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Capacity for swallowing; voracity. [ 1913 Webster ]

There being nothing too gross for the swallow of political rancor. Prof. Wilson. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. As much as is, or can be, swallowed at once; as, a swallow of water. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. That which ingulfs; a whirlpool. [ Obs. ] Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who swallows; also, a glutton. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The European sapphirine gurnard (Trigla hirundo). It has large pectoral fins. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Carp.) A kind of tenon or tongue used in making joints. See Dovetail. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A species of willow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Fort.) An outwork with converging sides, its head or front forming a reentrant angle; -- so called from its form. Called also priestcap. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A swallow-tailed coat. [ 1913 Webster ]

This Stultz coat, a blue swallowtail, with yellow buttons. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An arrow. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large and handsome butterflies, belonging to Papilio and allied genera, in which the posterior border of each hind wing is prolongated in the form of a long lobe. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The black swallowtail, or asterias (see Papilio), the blue swallowtail, or philenor, the tiger swallowtail, or turnus (see Turnus), and the zebra swallowtail, or ajax (see under Zebra) are common American species. See also Troilus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having a tail like that of a swallow; hence, like a swallow's tail in form; having narrow and tapering or pointed skirts; as, a swallow-tailed coat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Carp.) United by dovetailing; dovetailed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swallow-tailed duck (Zool.), the old squaw. --
Swallow-tailed gull (Zool.), an Arctic gull (Xema furcata), which has a deeply forked tail. --
Swallow-tailed hawk or
Swallow-tailed kite (Zool.), the fork-tailed kite. --
Swallow-tailed moth (Zool.), a European moth (Urapteryx sambucaria) having tail-like lobes on the hind wings. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) (a) See Celandine. (b) A poisonous plant (Vincetoxicum officinale) of the Milkweed family, at one time used in medicine; -- also called white swallowwort. [ 1913 Webster ]

African swallowwort, a plant of the genus Stapelia. [ 1913 Webster ]