switch

n. [ Cf. OD. swick a scourage, a whip. Cf. Swink, Swing. ] 1. A small, flexible twig or rod. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a switch. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Railways) A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Elec.) A device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for making and breaking a circuit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Safety switch (Railways), a form of switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of trains. --
Switch back (Railways), an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags, the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is reached. --
Switch board (Elec.), a collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired manner. --
Switch grass. (Bot.) See under Grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To walk with a jerk. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Switched p. pr. & vb. n. Switching. ] 1. To strike with a switch or small flexible rod; to whip. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To swing or whisk; as, to switch a cane. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To trim, as, a hedge. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; -- generally with off, from, etc.; as, to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Eccl.) To shift to another circuit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an elctrical apparatus consisting predominantly of a panel on which are switches or other means of completing electrical circuits; -- used especially for the devices used in telephone exchanges. See sense 2. [ PJC ]

2. (Telephone) An apparatus containing switches by means of which a connection may be made from an incoming telephone line to any one of numerous outgoing lines. The switches may be either mechanical or electronic, and the switching action may be automatic, controlled by signals in the incoming call, or manual, controlled by a switchboard operator. In older style manual switchboards, the circuits were connected by the use of patchcords, inserted into plugs.
Syn. -- patchboard, plugboard, telephone exchange. [ PJC ]

n. [ See Sweet. ] A beverage of molasses and water, seasoned with vinegar and ginger. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a sudden and unexpected change or reversal of position, attitude, or action. [ PJC ]

a. & n. from Switch, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

Switching engine, a locomotive for switching cars from one track to another, and making up trains; -- called also switch engine. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a device used as part of an electronic device, which transforms electrical current from an AC line circuit to DC for use in electronic devices, and which can use either 110 volt or 220 volt AC line curent. [ PJC ]