1. (v. i.) Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.

2. (v. i.) of short continuance; passing away quickly.

3. (adv.) Swiftly.

4. (n.) The current of a stream.

5. (n.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.

6. (n.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.

7. (n.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost.

8. (n.) A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.

9. (n.) The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.

abrupt agile alacritous alert apt breakneck brief brisk cometary cursory dashing decisive dispatchful double-quick eagle-winged electrifying expeditious express fast festinate feverish flashing flat-out fleet flickering flying full tilt furious galloping hair-trigger hasty headlong hurried hustling immediate impetuous impulsive instant instantaneous last-minute light of heel light-footed lively mercurial meteoric nerve-shattering nimble nimble-footed on the spot passing precipitant precipitate precipitous prompt promptly punctual quick quick as lightning quick as thought quickly raking rapid rapidly ready reckless running sharp shocking short short and sweet short-term short-termed slap-bang slapdash smart snap snappy spanking speedily speedy spry startling sudden summary superficial supersonic surprising swiftly unanticipated unexpected unforeseen unlooked-for unpredicted urgent winged