What Is a Swoper?

When I moved to Kentucky in August 2001, I soon heard the word sworper. What the heck is that, I thought?

I asked my coworkers and other locals if they knew what a sworper was and they all did, but they couldn't exactly define it. Even spelling it turned out to be a challenge. Then Jim Wheeler told me that the way to spell it is S-W-O-R-PER.

I would hear the word used on Appalshop Radio (WMMT-FM) referring to one of their dj's and one of their contributors. I was getting the context of how to use it, but what exactly did it mean.

I googled sworper. It doesn't return too many results.

Things I do know about sworper/sworp. It is a noun, verb, adjective and adverb.

It is the opposite of straight, true, small, quiet.

Some examples...

1) When we were building a house, if the walls were wavy or not plumb, you could say, "Those walls sure are sworped." or "I've never seen walls so sworped." Relatively the same context would be "That wall is crooked'er than a dog's leg" (Thank you Mike Powers).

2) If you went out drinking and dancing then you might be out honkey-sworping. You may also find yourself sworped after you've had too much to drink.

3) If you're a hunter, you may find some real sworper bucks waiting to be hunted. They're big, mean and ornery.

I don't think this is a complete list at all, but it's what I was exposed to.e