Swoop \Swoop\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swooped; p. pr. & vb. n. Swooping.]

[OE. swopen, usually, to sweep, As. sw[=a]pan to sweep, to rush; akin to G. schweifen to rove, to ramble, to curve, OHG. sweifan to whirl, Icel. sveipa to sweep; also to AS. sw[=i]fan to move quickly. Cf. Sweep, Swift, a. & n., Swipe, Swivel.]

1. To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken.

2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.

And now at last you came to swoop it all. --Dryden.

The grazing ox which swoops it [the medicinal herb] in with the common grass. --Glanvill.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Swoop \Swoop\, v. i.

1. To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a hawk; to swoop.

2. To pass with pomp; to sweep. [Obs.]

--Drayton.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Swoop \Swoop\, n. A falling on and seizing, as the prey of a rapacious bird; the act of swooping.

The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop. --L'Estrange.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)