switch

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switch slender tapering riding-whip XVI; thin flexible shoot XVII; mechanical device for altering direction XVIII; long bunch or coil of hair XIX. In early use also swits, switz; prob. — LG. word repr. by swutsche, var. of swukse long thin stick. Comp. switchback form of railway used on steep slopes, in which the train or car can be ‘switched back’ (BACK adv.) or reversed. XIX.

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