sweep-comb. form
The verb-stem in combination.
1. In attributive relation to the second element. (In some of these the first element may be sweep n.) See also sweep-net n. † sweep tail n. Obsolete a long sweeping tail.
sweep-bar n.
Brit. 
/ˈswiːpbɑː/
, /ˈswiːpbɑː/U.S. /ˈswipˌbɑr/
= sway-bar n. at sway- comb. form ./ˈswipˌbɑr/ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > parts of cart or carriage > [noun] > sway-bar or turning-plate
sway-bar1796
turning-plate1797
sweep-bar1802
sway plate1842
sweeping-bar1859
wheel-plate1859
fifth-wheel1874
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. Sweep-bar, of a waggon, is that which is fixed on the hind part of the fore guide, and passes under the hind pole, which slides upon it.
1876 G. E. Voyle Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) Sweep Bar, the rear bar of a siege howitzer limber (O.P.), which connects the futchels.
sweep-board n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpbɔːd/
, /ˈswiːpbɔːd/U.S. /ˈswipˌbɔrd/
(see quot. 1909)./ˈswipˌbɔrd/Π
1909 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) Strickle,..3. Founding,..the strickle is drawn laterally along a guideway, or rotated with a vertical spindle. In the latter case it is more commonly called a sweepboard or striking board.
sweep-brush n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpbrʌʃ/
, /ˈswiːpbrʌʃ/U.S. /ˈswipˌbrəʃ/
a brush used by paperhangers for smoothing paper as it is laid on./ˈswipˌbrəʃ/ΘΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > decorating equipment > [noun] > brushes
badger softener1840
mottler1862
overgrainer1862
badger1863
sweep-brush1901
1901 J. Black Illustr. Carpenter & Builder Ser.: Home Handicrafts 77 The sweep brush or smoothing roller is taken from the apron pocket and smooths the paper on to the ceiling progressively.
sweep hand n.
Brit. /ˈswiːp hand/
, /ˈswiːp hand/U.S. /ˈswip ˌhænd/
= sweep-seconds watch/ˈswip ˌhænd/ΘΚΠ
the world > time > instruments for measuring time > clock > [noun] > part(s) of > hand(s)
pinOE
hand1563
teller1574
index1594
finger1603
palm1629
hour-hand1669
minute hand1720
index-hand1742
second-hand1760
moment-hand1766
little hand1829
big hand1849
set-hands1884
sweep hand1948
sweep second1948
1948 Wrist Watches, Pocket Watches & Clocks iii. 185 Watch stops... This may be caused by..sweep hand rubbing on dial.
1967 R. Meyers Dolphin Rider (1968) i. 22 Henries..listened while he watched the sweep hand of his watch.
1977 Times Lit. Suppl. 24 June 779/1 The sweep hand of my watch is there in order to make seconds easier to read.
sweep-head adj.
Brit. /ˈswiːphɛd/
, /ˈswiːphɛd/U.S. /ˈswipˌhɛd/
applied to a miner's pick with a curved head./ˈswipˌhɛd/Π
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Sweep-head Pick, a pick the form of the head of which is made curved instead of elbowed or anchored, as other kinds are termed.
sweep-panelled adj.
Brit. /ˈswiːppanld/
, /ˈswiːppanld/U.S. /ˈswipˌpænəld/
? having curved panels./ˈswipˌpænəld/Π
1843 C. J. C. Davidson Diary Trav. Upper India II. ix. 209 Buggies, full, half, or sweep-panelled.
sweep-piece n.
Brit. /ˈswiːppiːs/
, /ˈswiːppiːs/U.S. /ˈswipˌpis/
Shipbuilding (see quots.)./ˈswipˌpis/ΚΠ
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Sweep-piece, a block at the bottom of the port-sill for receiving the chock of the gun-carriage, and to aid in training the gun.
sweep-plate n.
Brit. /ˈswiːppleɪt/
, /ˈswiːppleɪt/U.S. /ˈswipˌpleɪt/
(see quots.)./ˈswipˌpleɪt/Π
1849 G. C. Greenwell Gloss. Terms Coal Trade Northumberland & Durham 54 Sweep-plates, curved plates for laying barrow-way round a turn.
sweep-rake n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpreɪk/
, /ˈswiːpreɪk/U.S. /ˈswipˌreɪk/
(a) see quot. a1884; (b) a wheeled frame with long teeth for sweeping up crops lying in swath./ˈswipˌreɪk/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > harvesting equipment > [noun] > reaping tools > machine to lift crops in swath
swather1875
sweep-rakea1884
the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > harvesting equipment > [noun] > reaping tools > reaping-machine > parts of
fingera1722
reel1845
finger-bar1847
sweep-rakea1884
a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 876/1 Sweep Rake, the rake that clears the table of a self rake reaper.
1910 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 108/1 An American invention known as the sweep rake was introduced..into England in 1894.
sweep-rod n.
Brit. /ˈswiːprɒd/
, /ˈswiːprɒd/U.S. /ˈswipˌrɑd/
a long rod operating as a lever./ˈswipˌrɑd/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > lever > [noun] > others
hammer1546
pawl1730
swinger1825
key1837
throw lever1866
sweep-rod1867
bell-crank1881
control lever1887
touch key1957
1867 W. W. Smyth Treat. Coal & Coal-mining 184 When pumps are to be worked, it is usually by sweep-rods passing from the crank on the main shaft to quadrants or bell-cranks at the shaft mouth.
sweep-rope n.
Brit. /ˈswiːprəʊp/
, /ˈswiːprəʊp/U.S. /ˈswipˌroʊp/
= sweep n. 30./ˈswipˌroʊp/ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > sweeping wire or rope
sweep1775
sweep-rope1848
sweep wire1909
1848 A. Jal Gloss. Naut. Sweep-rope, corde employée à draguer les objets restés au fond de la mer.
sweep-saw n. /ˈswipˌsɑ/ a saw adapted for cutting sweeps or curves; a bow-saw, turning-saw.
Brit. /ˈswiːpsɔː/
, /ˈswiːpsɔː/U.S. /ˈswipˌsɔ/
, /ˈswipˌsɔ//ˈswipˌsɑ/ΘΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > saw > [noun] > saws for cutting curves
whip-saw1538
compass-saw1678
turning-saw1725
sweep-saw1846
turn-saw1875
coping saw1925
1846 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. II. 728 The turning-saw, or sweep-saw..also called the frame-saw, or bow-saw.
sweep second n.
Brit. /ˈswiːp ˌsɛk(ə)nd/
, /ˈswiːp ˌsɛk(ə)nd/U.S. /ˈswip ˌsɛkən(d)/
(also sweep seconds, sweep seconds hand, sweep second hand) originally U.S. = centre second n. at centre n.1 and adj. Compounds 3; hence sweep-seconds watch./ˈswip ˌsɛkən(d)/ΘΚΠ
the world > time > instruments for measuring time > clock > [noun] > part(s) of > hand(s)
pinOE
hand1563
teller1574
index1594
finger1603
palm1629
hour-hand1669
minute hand1720
index-hand1742
second-hand1760
moment-hand1766
little hand1829
big hand1849
set-hands1884
sweep hand1948
sweep second1948
1948 Wrist Watches, Pocket Watches & Clocks ii. 154 Remove sweep seconds hand.
1953 W. J. Gazeley Watch & Clock Making iii. 48 Nowadays..we have what are termed sweep-seconds watches. At one time these were referred to as centre-seconds.
1962 E. Bruton Dict. Clocks & Watches 170 Sweep seconds, American name for centre seconds.
1962 J. D. MacDonald Girl viii. 101 Uncle Omar's gold watch..had an hour hand, a minute hand and a sweep second hand.
1969 Guardian 20 Aug. 7/1 All the clocks..have a sweep second hand.
1979 Sci. Amer. May 145/1 A sweep second hand on a wristwatch will also serve.
sweep-seine n. /ˈswipˌsɛn/ = sweep-net n. 1.
Brit. /ˈswiːpseɪn/
, /ˈswiːpseɪn/U.S. /ˈswipˌseɪn/
, /ˈswipˌseɪn//ˈswipˌsɛn/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > net > [noun] > seine-net
seinec950
seine-net1603
sweep-net1605
shackle-head1762
sweeping-net1809
hang-net1812
stop-seine1825
purse seine1838
ring net1851
scringe1851
trawl-net1855
sweep-seine1856
ground-seine1874
purse seine net1879
shore seine1884
trek-net1913
1856 F. L. Olmsted Journey Slave States 351 The shad and herring fisheries upon the sounds and inlets of the North Carolina coast..The largest sweep seines in the world are used.
sweep-seining n. /ˈswipˌsɛnɪŋ/ the use of a sweep-seine.
Brit. /ˈswiːpˌseɪnɪŋ/
, /ˈswiːpˌseɪnɪŋ/U.S. /ˈswipˌseɪnɪŋ/
, /ˈswipˌseɪnɪŋ//ˈswipˌsɛnɪŋ/ sweep-slide n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpslʌɪd/
, /ˈswiːpslʌɪd/U.S. /ˈswipˌslaɪd/
= sweep-piece n./ˈswipˌslaɪd/Π
1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 353/1 She mounts two 84 pounders bow and stern, on sweep slides.
sweep-table n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpteɪbl/
, /ˈswiːpteɪbl/U.S. /ˈswipˌteɪb(ə)l/
[= French table à balais] = sweeping-table n. at sweeping n. Compounds 2./ˈswipˌteɪb(ə)l/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for treating ores > [noun] > for washing ore > table or frame
frame1778
sleeping table1839
sweeping-table1839
sweep-table1839
bumping table1877
rag frame1904
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 816 At the upper part of these five sweep tables, the materials which are to undergo washing are agitated in two boxes..by small paddle-wheels.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > rump and tail > [noun] > tail > long flowing tail
whisk tail1675
swing-tail1683
sweep tail1686
switch tail1689
swish-tail1796
swish1844
whiptail1887
1686 London Gaz. No. 2190/4 A Bay Nag with a Sweep Tail.
sweep wire n.
Brit. /ˈswiːp ˌwʌɪə/
, /ˈswiːp ˌwʌɪə/U.S. /ˈswip ˌwaɪ(ə)r/
a wire used in sweeping for something under water./ˈswip ˌwaɪ(ə)r/ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > sweeping wire or rope
sweep1775
sweep-rope1848
sweep wire1909
1909 Westm. Gaz. 15 July 7/1 The torpedo boat No. 99 has been anchored to her by sweep wires.
sweep-work n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpwəːk/
, /ˈswiːpwəːk/U.S. /ˈswipˌwərk/
curved work./ˈswipˌwərk/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > specific parts built or constructed > [noun] > other specific parts
panel1498
pane1582
well-curb1665
through-work1686
gathering1703
dripping1735
sweep1766
bridging1774
accouplement1823
sweep-work1847
1847 A. C. Smeaton Builder's Pocket Man. (new ed.) 93 In bending and glueing-up stuff for sweep-work.
2. With the second element in objective relation:† sweep-gallery n. Obsolete† sweep-house n. Obsolete a person employed to sweep a gallery or a house, a menial servant.† sweep-street n. Obsolete (a) ? one whose long garments sweep the street; (b) a street-sweeper.
sweep-all n. /ˈswipˌɑl/ one who ‘sweeps up’ or appropriates all, = sweepstake n. 1.Apparently an isolated use.
Brit. /ˈswiːpɔːl/
, /ˈswiːpɔːl/U.S. /ˈswipˌɔl/
, /ˈswipˌɔl//ˈswipˌɑl/Π
1695 J. Edwards Disc. conc. Old & New-Test. III. xiv. 583 The Avaritious and Extorting Pretor of Sicily, is by Tully call'd Verrens, Sweep-all.
sweep-chimney n.
Brit. /ˈswiːptʃɪmni/
, /ˈswiːptʃɪmni/U.S. /ˈswipˌtʃɪmni/
Obsolete or dialect a chimney-sweeper./ˈswipˌtʃɪmni/ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning house > [noun] > cleaning chimneys > one who
chimney-sweeper?1518
sweep-chimney1657
lily-white1699
chimney-sweep1709
sooterkin1795
sweepy1798
sweep1812
ramoneura1859
chummy1860
chimney-cleanser1905
chimney-cleaner1906
fluonomist1946
1657 R. Baxter One Sheet for Ministry §12. 6 I would be a Plow-man,..if not a sweep-Chimney, rather then a Minister.
1716 M. Davies Crit. Hist. 87 in Athenæ Britannicæ III It [sc. a conduit of stone for water] serves only for Sweep-Chimneys to stand by,..and therefore vulgarly call'd Sweep-Chimneys-Hall.
1826 Times 5 Jan. 3/4 He was a sweep-chimney by profession.
1858 T. Hughes Scouring of White Horse v. 94 Amongst 'em a sweep chimley and a millurd.
ΘΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] > unskilled or doing menial work
kitchen knave1440
scullion1483
sweep-house1621
sweep-gallery1705
scrubber1839
slushy1953
1705 in Ushaw Mag. (1903) Dec. 299 Bernard ye sweepgallery.
ΘΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] > unskilled or doing menial work
kitchen knave1440
scullion1483
sweep-house1621
sweep-gallery1705
scrubber1839
slushy1953
1621 S. D'Ewes in J. H. Marsden College Life Time James I (1851) iii. 50 Two base sweep-houses belonging to him, who were recusants.
ΘΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning streets > [noun] > one who
mucker1229
raker1327
canel raker?1518
masser-scourer?1518
scavenger1530
sweep-street1553
channel raker1575
broom-man1592
broom-boy1593
gutter-master1607
rake-kennel1707
fulyie man1826
road sweeper1832
crossing-sweeper1841
street orderly1848
orderly1851
scavager1851
scaffy1853
broomer1857
sweep1858
roader1883
1553 J. Bale Vocacyon 43 They are but pilde peltinge prestes,..though they be sir Swepestretes, maistre doctours, and lorde bishoppes.
1612 Mr. King tr. Benvenuto Passenger ii. i. 423 Shoomakers, Woodmongers, Sweepe-streetes [It. Spaza camini], Faulkners.
3. With adverbs:
sweepback n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpbak/
, /ˈswiːpbak/U.S. /ˈswipˌbæk/
Aeronautics the form of an aircraft wing that is angled backwards, so that the part farther from the fuselage is aft of the nearer part; the angle made by such a wing with a line at right angles to the fuselage./ˈswipˌbæk/ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > [noun] > plane or aerofoil > wing > sweep
sweep1914
sweepback1914
sweep-forward1932
variable geometry1957
1914 Aeroplane 19 Mar. 308/1 Owing to the sweep back on the wings the side area of these struts may be regarded as taking the place of tail fins.
1918 H. J. Stephens Gloss. Aeronaut. Words (ed. 2) 36 Sweepback, the angle at which the planes slope backwards each side of the fuselage.
1939 Aircraft Engin. Apr. 159/3 The basic characteristic of sweepback on a rectangular wing would appear to be an early stalling of the tips which may or may not produce greater lateral stability.
1968 R. Miller & D. Sawers Technical Devel. Mod. Aviation vi. 204 The slightly greater sweep-back of the 707's wing means that it takes off at a greater angle of attack.
1977 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts 125 349/2 We can use the improved methods..to reduce wing sweepback (thus improving take-off and landing).
sweep-forward n. /ˈswiːpfɔːwəd/, /ˈswipˌfɔrwərd/ Aeronautics the form of an aircraft wing that is angled forwards, so that the part further from the fuselage is forward of the nearer part.
Brit. /swiːpˈfɔːwəd/
, /swiːpˈfɔːwəd//ˈswiːpfɔːwəd/U.S. /ˌswipˈfɔrwərd/
, /ˌswipˈfɔrwərd//ˈswipˌfɔrwərd/ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > [noun] > plane or aerofoil > wing > sweep
sweep1914
sweepback1914
sweep-forward1932
variable geometry1957
1932 Technical Rep. Aeronaut. Res. Committee 1930–31 I. 39 Sweep-forward increases the maximum lift and considerably delays the stall.
1953 M. Rauscher Introd. Aeronaut. Dynamics ix. 378 A wing without pronounced sweep-back or sweep-forward.
1975 L. J. Clancy Aerodynamics xvi. 532 Sweep forward would have a de-stabilizing effect.
sweep-out n.
Brit. /ˈswiːpaʊt/
, /ˈswiːpaʊt/U.S. /ˈswipˌaʊt/
an act of sweeping out; (U.S. colloquial) a clearance or purge./ˈswipˌaʊt/ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > [noun] > clearing or sweeping away > riddance > specifically of persons
expurgation1615
purge1893
sweep-out1947
long knives1967
1947 Sun (Baltimore) 16 Aug. 12/8 Governor Lane has ordered a sweep-out at the Board of Supervisors of Elections... About 30 places on the pay roll..are slated to be pulled out from under employés who are on the wrong side of the Democratic factional fence.
1978 Detroit Free Press 6 Apr. e 5/3 A total of 47 rookies won jobs this season, reflecting a lot of dead wood on the rosters. ‘Next year’, predicts our source, ‘will see an even bigger sweep-out.’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1918; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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