Sway abruptly (5)
I believe the answer is:
lurch
'sway abruptly' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for lurch that I've seen before include "Faltering movement" , "Move unsteadily sideways" , "Sudden unsteady movement" , "Stagger; abandoned, if left in it" , "Stagger; (leave in ) difficulties" .)