4. To get something advantageous, as money, property, or labor from
(any one), by exaction or oppression; as, to sweat a spendthrift; to
sweat laborers. [Colloq.]
To sweat coin, to remove a portion of a piece of coin, as by shaking it
with others in a bag, so that the friction wears off a small quantity
of the metal.
The only use of it [money] which is interdicted is to put it in
circulation again after having diminished its weight by "sweating",
or otherwise, because the quantity of metal contains is no longer
consistent with its impression.
R. Cobden.
Sweat (?), n. [Cf. OE. swot, AS. swt. See Sweat, v. i.] 1. (Physiol.)
The fluid which is excreted from the skin of an animal; the fluid
secreted by the sudoriferous glands; a transparent, colorless, acid
liquid with a peculiar odor, containing some fatty acids and mineral
matter; perspiration. See Perspiration.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.
Gen. iii. 19.
2. The act of sweating; or the state of one who sweats; hence, labor;
toil; drudgery. Shak.
3. Moisture issuing from any substance; as, the sweat of hay or grain
in a mow or stack. Mortimer.