different between skerrick vs swatch

English

Etymology

Origin unknown. Originally used in British dialect.

Pronunciation

Noun

skerrick (plural skerricks)

1. (now chiefly Australia, New Zealand) A very small amount or portion, particularly used in the negative.
   • 2006, Alexis Wright, Carpentaria, Giramondo 2012, p. 117:

     When he reached this point in his madness, it disabled whatever skerrick of common sense he might have had even to save himself.

   • 2007, Kennedy Warne, Blue Haven, National Geographic (April 2007), 74,

     "And all I can think is that they're seeing a crumb, a skerrick of what it once was".

References

Anagrams

• Kerricks

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sw?t?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /sw?t?/, /sw?t?/
• Rhymes: -?t?

Etymology 1

From earlier Northern England dialectal swache (“the counterfoil or counterstock of a tally”) (1512); further etymology unknown. Cognate with Scots swach, swatch. Compare English swath, swathe. Compare also Old English swæcc (“taste; flavour; odour; fragrance”).

Noun

swatch (plural swatches)

1. A piece, pattern, or sample, generally of cloth or a similar material.
2. A selection of such samples bound together.
3. (figuratively) A clump or portion of something.
4. (figuratively) A demonstration, an example, a proof.
5. (Northern England, obsolete) A tag or other small object attached to another item as a means of identifying its owner; a tally; specifically the counterfoil of a tally.
   • c. 1512, “The Booke of All the Directions and Orders for Kepynge of My Lordes Hous Yerely. X. ITEM The Articles Howe the Clerks of the Kechinge and Clerks of the Brevements Shall Order Them aswell Conssernynge the Brevements as for Seynge to the Officers in their Officis to be Kept Daylye Weikely Monthely Quarterly Halff-Yerely and Yerely”, in The Regulations and Establishment of the Houshold of Henry Algernon Percy, the Fifth Earl of Northumberland, at His Castles of Wresill and Lekinfield in Yorkshire. Begun Anno Domini M.D. XII, London: [s.n.], published 1770, ?OCLC; republished in Francis Grose, Thomas Astle, and other eminent antiquaries, compilers, The Antiquarian Repertory: A Miscellaneous Assemblage of Topography, History, Biography, Customs, and Manners. Intended to Illustrate and Preserve Several Valuable Remains of Old Times. [...] In Four Volumes, volume IV, London: Printed for and published by Edward Jeffery, No. 11, Pall-Mall, 1809, ?OCLC, page 73:

     ITEM that the said Clerkis of the Brevements entre all the Taillis of the Furniunturs in the Jornall Booke in the Countynghous every day furthwith after the Brede be delyveret to the Pantre and then the Stoke [i.e., main part] of the Taill to by delyveret to the Baker and the Swache to the Pantler. [...] ITEM that the said Clerkis of the Brevements entre all the Taills of the Brasyantors in the Jornall Booke in the Countynghous at every tyme furthwith after the Bere be delyveret into the Buttry and then the Stoke of the Taill to be delyveret to the Brewar and the Swatche to the Butler.

Translations

Verb

swatch (third-person singular simple present swatches, present participle swatching, simple past and past participle swatched)

1. To create a swatch, especially a sample of knitted fabric.

Etymology 2

Origin unknown; originally used chiefly in the East of England.

Noun

swatch (plural swatches)

1. (Britain) A channel or passage of water between sandbanks, or between a sandbank and a seashore.