Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general intensifier, very large, very forceful, very powerful; 17C use often describing venereal disease.

1686		Behn Lucky Chance III v: I shall recover swingeing damages with a City jury.
1697		Female Wits II i: I’ll be hanged if it don’t bring a swingeing audience on the third day.
1711		Swift Journal to Stella 13 Nov. (2004) 238: I was sick on Sunday, and now have got a swingeing cold.
1731		C. Coffey Devil to Pay I ii: I’ll bring up the rear with a swindging Turkey Pie.
1741		Witchcraft of Love 59: A great swingeing Dog, as big as old Hobson’s Stonehorse, claps his two Paws on my Shoulders, and stares me in the Face.
1825		J.K. Paulding John Bull in America 47: I paid my bill [...] in truth it was a most swingeing one.
1831		Satirist (London) 8 May 38/1: [A]dvice is to be given gratis every morning (Sundays excepted). Hook says it will be ‘a swinge-ing concern’ .
1836		T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 37: A swingeing big Pig, that weighed some six or seven hundred weight.
1843		Leeds Intelligencer 30 Dec. 8/3: [headline] More ‘Swingeing’ Rates in Leeds.
1857		C. Kingsley Two Years Ago I 194: I never told you of it, old pill and potion, for fear of a swingeing bill.
1869		Dundee Courier 11 Feb. 2/2: If they give me swingeing damages, my Starr, won’t you be done!
1872		C.D. Warner Blacklog Studies 264: A placid, calm, swingeing cold night [F&H].
1875		Staffs. Sentinel 24 Feb. 3/1: Ninety-seven is a good swingeing majority.
1881		Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Jan. 5/4: It has been remarked that, with the death of Jeffrey […] the ‘swingeing’ criticisms which [...] were wont to gladden the hearts of our forefathers, gave way to the more ‘paternal’ style of reviewing.
1881		Leeds Times 22 Jan. 7/6: A swingeing bill for dinner.
1893		Gloucester Citizen 14 Aug. 4/4: A swingeing tax might be relied on to do the rest — or fill the exchequer.
1999		J. Poller Reach 18: It is hard to express here the swingeing contempt I felt for them.
2000		Guardian 4 May 34: The penalties for [...] involvement in drugs are swingeing.

a sexual athlete.

1675

C. Cotton Burlesque 83: Is the old Letcher still so tough, A Swinge-bow of so high renown, A Wench can’t sooner take him down?

suffering from venereal disease.

c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: He is Swing’d off, damnably Clapt.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].

to toss down a drink.

1570		B. Googe Popish Kingdome IV 48: And cleane they swinge of euery cup .
1649		J. Taylor Wanderings to see Wonders of West 7: Mine Host swing’d off halfe a pot to me.

see trim someone’s jacket under trim v.