The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sweal \Sweal\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Swealed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Swealing.] [OE. swelen to burn, AS. swelan; akin to G.
schwelen to burn slowly, schw["u]l sultry, Icel. sv[ae]la a
thick smoke.]
To melt and run down, as the tallow of a candle; to waste
away without feeding the flame. [Written also swale.]
--Sir
W. Scott.
Sweal \Sweal\, v. t. To singe; to scorch; to swale; as, to sweal a pig by singeing off the hair.
Wiktionary
vb. 1 (context intransitive English) To burn slowly. 2 (context intransitive English) To melt and run down, as the tallow of a candle; waste away without feeding the flame. 3 (context transitive English) To singe; scorch; dress (as a hog) with burning or singeing. 4 (context transitive dialectal English) To consume with fire; burn. 5 (context transitive dialectal English) To make disappear; cause to waste away; diminish; reduce.
Usage examples of "sweal".
She worked until her back and shoulders ached and sweal ran down between her breasts and her shoulder blades, and it was as well for her that she was wearing long canvas sleeves and overskirt, for she would not have noticed if the thorns had cut her, if her pruning-knife or her hand rake had slipped.