Swan Definition

swŏn

swanned, swanning, swans

noun

swans

Any of several large-bodied, web-footed waterfowl (family Anatidae, esp. genus Cygnus) with a long, graceful neck and, typically, pure white feathers: swans are graceful swimmers and strong flyers.

Webster's New World

A person who resembles or is thought to resemble a swan in some way; sometimes, specif., a great poet or singer.

Webster's New World

(figuratively) One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.

Wiktionary

(soccer) Someone connected with Swansea City Football Club, as a fan, player, coach, etc.

Wiktionary

(Australian rules football) Someone connected with the Sydney Swans, as a fan, player, coach, etc.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
whooper
trumpeter
aquatic bird

verb

To travel around from place to place.

American Heritage

To move slowly or majestically, with a calm, serene air.

Webster's New World

To declare; swear. Used in the phrase I swan as an interjection.

American Heritage

To swear.

Webster's New World

(UK, intransitive) To travel or move about in an aimless, idle, or pretentiously casual way.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

pronoun

A surname.

Wiktionary

idiom

the Swan

the constellation Cygnus

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Swan

Noun

Singular:

swan

Plural:

swans

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Swan

the Swan

Origin of Swan

From Old English swan, from Proto-Germanic *swanaz. Cognate with West Frisian swan, Low German Swaan, swan, Dutch zwaan, German Schwan, Swedish svan, probably literally "the singing bird," from a Proto-Indo-European base *swon-/*swen- "to sing, make sound". Related to Old English geswin (“melody, song") and swinsian (“to make melody").

From Wiktionary
Probably from dialectal I s'wan, contraction of "I shall warrant"; later seen as a minced form of I swear.

From Wiktionary
Probably alteration of dialectal (I) s' warrant (I) shall warrant

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English from Old English swen- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition