swynken

• squinke, squynke, sqwynk, suinc, suink, suinke, suync, swenke, zuynke
• sȝink, swince, swinnkenn (Early Middle English)

From Old English swincan (“to labour”)

• IPA^(key): /ˈswinkən/

swynken

1. to labour, to work
   • c. 1370–1390, [William Langland], “(please specify the passus number)”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...], London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC:

     Heremites on an heep · with hoked staues,
     Wenten to Walsyngham · and here wenches after;
     Grete lobyes and longe · that loth were to swynke,
     Clotheden hem in copis · to be knowen fram othere;
     And shopen hem heremites · here ese to haue.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • [1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D) (in Middle English), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio iv, recto:

     Or swynken with his handes, and laboure,
     As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served?

     Or work with his hands, and labour,
     As Augustine commands? How shall the world be served?]

• English: swink
• Scots: swink