Swoop , n. A falling on
and seizing, as the prey of a rapacious bird; the act of
swooping.
The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop.
L'Estrange.
Swoop , v. i. 1. To
descend with closed wings from a height
upon prey, as a hawk; to stoop.
2. To pass with pomp; to sweep. [Obs.]
Drayton.
Swoop (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swooped (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Swooping.]
[OE. swopen, usually, to sweep, As. swāpan to sweep, to rush; akin to
G. schweifen to rove, to ramble, to curve, OHG. sweifan to whirl, Icel. sveipa to sweep; also to AS. swīfan to move
quickly. Cf. Sweep,
Swift, a. & n.,
Swipe, Swivel.] 1. To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk
swoops a chicken.
2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
And now at last you came
to swoop it all.
Dryden. The grazing ox which swoops it [the medicinal herb] in with
the common grass.
Glanvill.
Hear it pronounced