Words & TermsCrime, prison and the underworld
swy
A ration of prison tobacco.
In a sentence
His weekly swy became currency for small favours.
Where it came from
A variation of German zwei “two”, referring to the two-ounce tobacco ration. The weekly official ration of two ounces of tobacco was called a swy.
- First recorded
- 1972
- Initial era
- 1950–1999
- Where used
- Parramatta Jail, NSW
- Use today
- Historical Parramatta Jail usage; later/current currency not established