The story
Unknown, mid 16th c. Perhaps connected with Old English swelgan (“to swallow”).
First known use, by meaning
- 1540s–? Drink, liquor.
- from 1620s A long draught from a drink.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
swig
Today it means: To drink (usually by gulping or in a greedy or unrefined manner); to quaff. Full definition →
First used 1540s–?