| 释义 |
Swing, n.3 Now Hist.
Used, chiefly attrib., to designate a system of intimidation practised in agricultural districts of the South of England in 1830–1, consisting in sending to farmers and landowners threatening letters over the signature of a fictitious Captain Swing, followed by the incendiary destruction of their ricks and other property.
Three pretended lives of Swing appeared: The Life and History of Swing, the Kent Rick-burner, written by himself, 1830, A Short Account of the Life and Death of Swing, the Rick-burner, written by one well acquainted with him, by H. N. Coleridge, and The Genuine Life of Mr. Francis Swing, 1831. A review of the first of these, by Gen. P. Thompson, entitled ‘On Machine-breaking’, in the Westminster Review, Jan. 1831, was republished in pamphlet form, ‘In answer to ‘Swing’.’
1830Poor Man's Guardian 31 Dec. 8/1 There is no doubt that the fire was caused by an incendiary, as Mr. Ley had previously received a ‘Swing’ letter, threatening that his place should be fired before the 10th of January. [1832Let. to J. Keate (Headmaster of Eton) in N. & Q. 7th Ser. VII. 268/1 If you do not lay aside your Thrishing machine you will hear further from..Swing.] 1836–7Dickens Sk. Boz, Tales viii, ‘But this letter..is anonymous.’ ‘I see—bit o' Sving, eh?’ [1842Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. ii. Babes in Wood xvii, And Captain Swing came in the night, And burnt all his beans and his barley.] 1845W. Wing Antiq. Steeple Aston 58 The riots in the agricultural districts in 1830–1, called the ‘Swing-riots’. 1859Times 21 Nov., Excesses of the Luddites and Swing. [1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xxxix, And while Swing and his myrmidons were abroad in the counties.] 1888World 2 May 5 He quoted the example of the Swing Fires as an example of an evil which may have averted greater evils. |