Origin and history of swipe

1807, "heavy blow, driving stroke made with the arms in full swing," colloquial, perhaps (OED, 2nd ed. print, 1989) a dialectal variant of sweep (n.), or in part from obsolete swip, swaip "a stroke, blow" (Old English swapan), related to Old English swipu "a stick, whip; chastisement." Other possible sources or influences are Middle English swope "to sweep with broad movements" (in reference to brooms, swords, etc.); or obsolete swape "oar, pole." All seem to be more or less connected.

1825, Scottish, "give a stroke with a sweeping motion," from swipe (n.). Originally colloquial. Also "gulp down (a drink)," 1829. The slang sense of "steal by snatching, pilfer" is by 1885, American English, in prison jargon:

The blokes in the next cell, little Charley Ames and the Sheeney Kid, they was hot to try it, and swiped enough shoe-lining out of shop No. 5, where they worked, to make us all breeches to the stripes. [Lippincott's Magazine, vol. xxxv, June 1885]

The meaning "run a credit card" is from 1985. Related: Swiped; swiping. Swiper is 1853 as "one who gives a strong blow;" 1832 as "copious drunkard."