swarry n.
an evening party, gathering, or social meeting; also used of the menu itself.
![]() | Pickwick Papers (1999) cap. 37: A select company of the Bath footmen presents their compliments to Mr. Weller, and requests the pleasure of his company this evening, to a friendly swarry, consisting of a boiled leg of mutton with the usual trimmings. The swarry to be on table at half-past nine o’clock punctually. | |
![]() | Bell’s Life in Sydney 14 July n.p.: Tim Donohue’s Second Swarry. | |
![]() | Ballyshannon Herald 5 Sept. 3/3: A Swarry. On Monday Evening poor Young Ireland [...] testify their appreciation [...] by tripping it on the light fantastic toe. | |
![]() | Aberdeen Jrnl 16 July 6/1: He is invited by his cousin Mrs beebe, to a ‘swarry’. | |
![]() | Punch 22 Sept. 112/1: Last nite we gave A swarry, , whicvh was in my privit room. | |
![]() | Burnley Gaz. 29 Jan. 2/5: The supreme contempt that Mr Samuel Weller had for what he called ‘cold swarry’. | |
![]() | Exeter Flying Post 10 Sept. 5/5: Her Parliamentary Debating Society [...] had a kind of ‘swarry’. | |
![]() | ‘The Shanty on the Rise’ in Roderick (1967–9) I 155: There is little real pleasure in the city where I am— / There’s a swarry round the corner with its mockery and sham. | |
![]() | Ranch Verses 17: That lively gaited sworray – ‘The Cowboys’ Christmas Ball.’. | ‘The Cowboys’ Christmas Ball’ in|
![]() | Sun. Times (Perth) 8 Apr. 4/7: They had a magic lantern show at a local church ‘swarrie’ last week. | |
![]() | Sun. Times (Perth) 14 Oct. 4/8: A shickered swarry. A wild and wolly wedding. | |
![]() | Sheffield Dly Teleg. 27 Nov. 6/7: A friendly swarry consisting of a boiled leg of mutton with the ususal trimmings. | |
![]() | Sporting Times 63: A first night at the St. James’s might be a ‘swarry’ given by Mr. and Mrs. Debrett. | |
![]() | Belfast Telegram 19 Mar. 4/3: [headline] Memories of a Lover of ‘warries’. | |
![]() | Roses and Rainbows in Northern Windows (1987) 50: December was the school swarry . | |
![]() | Detroit free Press (MI) 17 Mar. 3G/1: [S]warry is an English vulgarism [...] meaning soiree. |