Swift

swift, adj. moving quickly: fleet, rapid: speedy: ready.— n. a genus ( Cypselus ) and family ( Cypselidæ ) of picarian birds, resembling the swallows in general appearance and habits, but most closely allied by anatomical structure to the humming-birds—with long pointed wings, a short tail, and remarkable powers of rapid and prolonged flight: the common newt: a reel for winding yarn: the main cylinder of a carding-machine: the current of a stream.— n. Swif′ter , any rope temporarily used to tighten or keep a thing in its place.— adjs. Swift′-foot′ed ; Swift′-hand′ed ; Swift′-heeled .— adv. Swift′ly , with swiftne : rapidly.— n. Swift′ne , quality of being swift: quickne : fleetne : rapidity: speed.— adj. Swift′-winged . [A.S. swift , from same root as swoop .]