1. Moving very fast
   "a swift current"; "swift flight of an arrow"; "a swift runner";
   - fleet

1. A small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight
   "The swift darted through the sky, catching insects on the wing"
    
2. A yellow-brown European moth of the family Hepialidae
   "We spotted a swift fluttering near the porch light";
   - ghost moth
    
3. [N. Amer] Common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks
   "The swift darted quickly between the rocks when disturbed";
   - western fence lizard, blue-belly, Sceloporus occidentalis

1. An English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)
   - Jonathan Swift, Dean Swift
    
2. United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railway cars (1839-1903)
   - Gustavus Franklin Swift

Derived forms: swifter, swiftest, swifts

See also: fast

Type of: apodiform bird, fence lizard, ironist, meat packer, packer, ridiculer, satirist

Part of: Apodidae, family Apodidae

Encyclopedia: Swift, Missouri