Sweep"er (?), n. One who, or that which, sweeps, or cleans by sweeping;
a sweep; as, a carpet sweeper.
It is oxygen which is the great sweeper of the economy.
Huxley.
Sweep"ing, a. Cleaning off surfaces, or cleaning away dust, dirt, or
litter, as a broom does; moving with swiftness and force; carrying
everything before it; including in its scope many persons or things;
as, a sweeping flood; a sweeping majority; a sweeping accusation. --
Sweep"ing*ly, adv. - Sweep"ing*ness, n.
Sweep"ings (?), n. pl. Things collected by sweeping; rubbish; as, the
sweepings of a street.
Sweep"-saw` (?), n. A bow- saw.
Sweep"stake` (?), n. 1. A winning of all the stakes or prizes. Heylin.
2. A complete removal or carrying away; a clean sweep. [Obs.] Bp.
Hacket.
Sweep"stakes` (?), n. 1. A winning of all the stakes or prizes; a
sweepstake.
2. sing. or pl. The whole money or other things staked at a horse race,
a given sum being put up for each horse, all of which goes to the
winner, or is divided among several, as may be previously agreed.