1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 39 The waxing yellowe, and swelling of the knoppes that holde the seede.

1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 71 They shew the swellings of their mind, in the swellings and plumpings out of theyr apparrayle.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 259/2 Swelling, is to give it [sc. the metal] its shape, and make it proportionable.

1780 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. (1876) x. 10 There is given to Hercules an extraordinary swelling and strength of muscles.

1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 32 The swelling of the buds, and the expansion of the leaves.

1875 A. W. Bennett & W. T. T. Dyer tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. iii. iv. 697 These organised bodies are..all capable of swelling; i.e. they have the power of absorbing water or aqueous solutions between their solid particles with such force that the particles are forced apart.

OE Cynewulf Elene 245 Þær meahte gesion, se ðone sið beheold, brecan ofer bæðweg, brimwudu snyrgan under swellingum, sæmearh plegean, wadan wægflotan.

1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 732 The fleshy swellings which the Chyromanticks call hyllockes or Monticles do make the brawne or pulpe of the hand.

1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 43 Mountaines be naturall swellings of the earth, above the usuall levell or surface of it.

1639 G. Chapman & J. Shirley Trag. Chabot ii. sig. C4 He..cannot..stand at all parts So truly circular, so sound, and solid, But have his swellings out, his crackes and crannies.

1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ix. 157 If the edge swell in any place, then plain off that swelling till it comply as aforesaid.

a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1677 (1955) IV. 116 Euston.., seated in a bottome betweene two gracefull swellings.

1789 J. Williams Nat. Hist. Mineral Kingdom II. 368 Some of the bellies, pipes, or swellings of the veins.

1845 J. Phillips & C. G. B. Daubeny Geol. in Encycl. Metrop. VI. 702/2 The little pillars [sc. of the bridge over the Wear] are worked with various swellings and mouldings.

1847 W. C. L. Martin Ox 15/1 The convexity and bold swellings of the forehead.

1883 M. P. Bale Saw-mills 337 Swelling, an excrescence upon the exterior of a tree.

1885 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Receipts 4th Ser. 232/2 Too thick a thread will make the ‘swelling’ (the rising caused in the back by the thread) too much.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. v. 122 May no sugre ne swete þynge asswage my swellynge.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Acts xxviii. 6 Thei gessiden him to be turned into swellinge, and sudenly to fallinge, and for to deie.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) v. xxviii Fulnes blaynes and bladdres swellinges.

14.. Langland's P. Pl. A. vii. 204 (MS. U.) For swellynge of heore wombes.

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 21^v If ratling or swelling, get once to the throte, thow loesist thy porkling.

1592 T. Kyd Trueth Murthering of Brewen 3 A strong deadly poyson, whose working was to make speedy haste to the heart without any swelling of the body or other signe of outward confection.

a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 78 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) Her shinne, her knee, and her thigh,..and some parts above, tooke swelling.

1714 J. Purcell Treat. Cholick 15 There is no Swelling, neither does any Pain follow from thence.

1726 Dict. Rusticum (ed. 3) Swelling, a disease which Goats are apt to be troubled with, after they have brought forth their Young.

1803 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 9 374 The remedies for white swelling.

1884 T. Bryant Pract. Surg. (ed. 4) I. i. 69 When a visible part is inflamed, there are four notable phenomena to be observed, namely:—redness, heat, pain, and swelling.

1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII c. 8 §3 Any..outwarde swelling or disease.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 143 The swelling betwixt the two Clawes, must be cut.

1631 tr. J. A. Comenius Porta Linguarum Reserata xxiv. §307 A swelling swels or riseth vp, and falleth downe.

1704 Dict. Rusticum at Swellings The Grease..occasions other Knobs and Swellings.

1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 28 The Swelling broke.

1769 W. Buchan Domest. Med. ii. 478 The white swellings of the joints.

1808 W. Scott in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Sir W. Scott (1839) I. i. 13 The slightest cold occasioned swellings in her face.

1833 J. Forbes et al. Cycl. Pract. Med. II. 738/1 The swelling may be fixed or moveable.

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. Z.iii Hie springes may cease from swellyng styll, but neuer dry away.

1560 Bible (Geneva) Jer. xii. 5 What wilt thou do in the swelling of Iorden?

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. iii. v. 58 He [sc. the Tiber] hath many and those suddaine swellings.

a1754 H. Fielding Jrnl. Voy. Lisbon (1755) 227 My whole comfort was to find, by the captain's relation, that the swelling was sometimes much worse.

1764 J. Ferguson Lect. Select Subj. ii. 27 The swelling of the tide..occasioned by the influence of the moon.

1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 231 Þe swellynge of þe see as mylk we schal souke.

1560 Bible (Geneva) Jer. xlix. 19 He shal come vp like a lyon from the swelling of Iorden.

1676 T. Otway Don Carlos iii. 18 Rock't on the swellings of the floating Tide.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 437 He rowld his River back; and pois'd he stood; A gentle Swelling, and a peaceful Flood.

1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 527 He swathes about the swelling of the deep.

1905 J. B. Bury Life St. Patrick vii. 134 He first crossed over a river-swelling, and then found a second swelling in front of him.

c1000 Ælfric Exodus ix. 9 Swellende blæddran.

c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 6 Wiþ ælcre yfelre swellendre wætan.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Exod. ix. 10 Woundes of the swellynge bleynes.

a1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 397 Botches and swelling sores.

c1591 M. Roydon Elegie on Astrophel i No swelling clouds accloyed the air.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 15 The Show'rs are grateful to the swelling Grain.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 57 The hissing Serpent, and the swelling Toad. View more context for this quotation

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 287 Breath on our swelling Sails a prosp'rous Wind.

a1721 M. Prior Pastoral Dial. 5 Young tender Plants and swelling buds appear.

1859 Habits Good Society (new ed.) ii. 121 Swelling glands are prevented.

1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 156 The swelling ground crushes in the timbers.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum vii. viii. (Bodl.) lf. 50/2 He schalle spare swelling metes and greete [L. ab inflatiuis cibis].

c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 31 Throcht virkyng of the suelland vallis of the brym seye.

1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 2 This Queene..Downe swasht theyre nauy, thee swelling surges vphaling.

1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Niiij Ilk saile Of dyuers ships vpon the swolling wawes.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 241 Rivers, swelling Brookes, and rils of everliving fountaines.

1633 P. Fletcher Piscatorie Eclogs vii. xix. 49 in Purple Island The earth her robe, the sea her swelling tide.

1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 53 We had a great swelling Sea.

1747 W. Collins Odes 38 Be mine the Hut, That from the Mountain's Side, Views Wilds, and swelling Floods.

1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. I2 The maid with swelling drops gan wet Her circled eien. View more context for this quotation

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iii. i. 197 That prettie Welsh, Which thou powrest downe from these swelling heauens. View more context for this quotation

1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 206 Taking out her handkerchief, she wiped away a swelling tear.

1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 223 With..trembling lips, and swelling eyes.

1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. i. sig. H Hee carelesly waues himselfe in the swelling plenty.

1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein III. iv. 111 To supply the public wants from their own swelling hoards!

1854 Poultry Chron. 1 61/2 Witness our weekly swelling list of promised exhibitions.

1908 Blackwood's Mag. Oct. 538 There easier toil Brings to the swelling bin a more abundant spoil.

1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty xii. 97 As the gradating shade pleases the eye, so the increasing, or swelling note, delights the ear.

1797 A. Radcliffe Italian III. i. 22 Hearing at intervals, swelling though feeble groans.

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 13 The dingle's hollow throat Prolonged the swelling bugle-note.

1712 in G. Grove Dict. Music (1889) IV. 8 [The first attempt at a] swelling organ [was made by Jordan in 1712].

1837 Stranger's Guide York (ed. 6) 77 There are..9 [stops] to the choir organ, 12 to the swelling organ.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David (1823) xvii. viii Cruell wordes their swelling tongues do chatt.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 51 Three lads of Cypres, noble swelling spirits..Haue I to night flustred with flowing cups.

1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth i. 91 She, to restraine the young Kings swelling minde,..had begun to set her husbands name after her owne in the publicke Acts.

1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane i. ii. 684 While th' avenging hand of Heav'n is on thee And presses to the Dust thy swelling Soul.

1735 S. Johnson tr. J. Lobo Voy. Abyssinia 106 The ridiculous Speculations of those swelling Philosophers, whose Arrogance would prescribe Laws to Nature.

1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. xi. 201 ‘Insulting!’ said the proudly swelling heart.

1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue f. 6^v His swellyng wordes of vanitie.

1590 ‘Pasquil’ First Pt. Pasquils Apol. sig. B2 Thys swelling and sawcie humour..against her Maiesties right honourable priuie Counsell.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 108 Possessed they were with swelling pride.

1680 Earl of Roscommon tr. Horace Art of Poetry in Poet. Wks. (1749) 155 Peleus and Telephus, exil'd and poor, Forget their swelling and gigantic words.

1817 T. Chalmers Series Disc. Christian Revel. (1852) iv. 92 What an impressive rebuke does it bring on the swelling vanity of science.

1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. xviii. 367 Insignificant are the results of man's labours compared with the swelling ideas of his presumption.