swan

swan

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

Origin of swan

Middle English from OE, akin to German schwan from Indo-European base an unverified form swen-, to sound, sing from source Classical Latin sonus, sound

Brit., Informal to move slowly or majestically, with a calm, serene air

swan Idioms

the Swan

the constellation Cygnus

Dial. to swear: usually in the exclamation I swan!, used to express surprise, impatience, etc.

Origin of swan

from uncertain or unknown; perhaps British dialect, dialectal Is' wan, I'll warrant

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MLA Style

"swan." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/swan>.

APA Style

swan. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/swan

swan

noun

Any of various large waterbirds of the genera Cygnus and Coscoroba of the family Anatidae, having webbed feet, a long slender neck, and usually white plumage.
Swan See Cygnus.

intransitive verb

swanned, swan·ning, swans Chiefly British

To travel around from place to place: “Swanning around Europe nowadays, are we?” ( Jeffrey Archer )

Origin of swan

Middle English from Old English; see swen- in Indo-European roots.

intransitive verb

Chiefly Southern US

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

Origin of swan

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

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"swan." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/swan>.

APA Style

swan. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/swan

Noun

(plural swans or swan)

Any of various species of large, long-necked waterfowl, of genus Cygnus, most of which have white plumage.
(figuratively) One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present swans, present participle swanning, simple past and past participle swanned)

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

Usage notes

In the sense "to travel", usually used as part of the phrase "to swan about" or "to swan around".

Origin

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").

Verb

(third-person singular simple present swans, present participle swanning, simple past and past participle swanned)

(US, slang) To declare (chiefly in first-person present constructions).

Anagrams

Origin

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

Noun

(plural Swans)

(soccer) someone connected with Swansea City Football Club, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
(Australian rules football) someone connected with the Sydney Swans, as a fan, player, coach, etc.

Proper noun