Swart (?), a. [OE. swart, AS. sweart black; akin to OFries, OS. & LG. swart, D. zwart, G. schwartz, OHG. swarz, Icel. svarir, Sw. svart, Dan. sort, Goth. swarts; cf. L. sordes dirt, sordere to be dirty. Cf. Sordid, Surd.] 1. Of a dark hue; moderately black; swarthy; tawny. “Swart attendants.” Trench. “Swart savage maids.” Hawthorne.
A nation strange, with visage swart. Spenser.
2. Gloomy; malignant. Milton.
Swart star, the Dog Star; — so called from its appearing during the hot weather of summer, which makes swart the countenance. Milton.