Dictionary

swy en · NOUN

Etymology

From German zwei (“two”). Doublet of tway.

Meanings

1. (Australia, obsolete) A two-shilling coin.
2. (Australia) Two-up.
   • “Then I come,” Kernow said, “and maybe I show you Old Australians how to play this — swy.” 1953, Tom Inglis Moore, editor, Australia Writes, page 3:
   • ‘[…]You′d swear a butterflied penny was spinning, especially in the night, playing under lights, but a good ringkeeper or any experienced swy player can pick a butterflied penny from the genuine spinning article.’ 1990, Frank J. Hardy, Retreat Australia fair and other Great Australian Legends, page 121:
   • 1951, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James, 1957, Come In Spinner, page 306, “ […] Coupla bastards come the raw prawn over me on the last lap up from Melbourne and I done me last bob at Swy.”
3. (Australia, slang) A two-year prison sentence.

Forms