swatch v To lie in wait for, and shoot, seals in the 'swatches' or areas of open water in an icefield.
1883 Fish Exhibit Cat4 175 Swatching and Trolling Old Hoods. [See 1887 quot at SWATCH n.1 1895 Dial Notes i, 381 ~ To watch for seals at the holes in order to shoot them. 1924 ENGLAND 174 In a pause, loading sculps, Joe Stirge went overside to swatch. 1955 ENGLISH 36 ~ To shoot seals in pools amid icefloes.
