SWITCH

A small, flexible twig or rod. Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a switch. Addison.

A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another.

A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women.

A mechanical device for shifting an electric current to another circuit. Safety switch (Railways), a form of switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of trains. -- Switch back (Railways), an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags, the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is reached. -- Switch board (Elec.), a collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired manner. -- Switch grass. (Bot.) See under Grass.

To strike with a switch or small flexible rod; to whip. Chapman.

To swing or whisk; as, to switch a cane.

To trim, as, a hedge. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; -- generally with off, from, etc.; as, to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another.

To shift to another circuit.

To walk with a jerk. [Prov. Eng.]