swan
Meanings
- Any of various species of large, long-necked waterfowl, of genus Cygnus (bird family: Anatidae), most of which have white plumage.
- One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.
- This bird used as a heraldic charge, sometimes with a crown around its neck (e. g. the arms of Buckinghamshire).
- To travel or move about in an aimless, idle, or pretentiously casual way.
- To declare (chiefly in first-person present constructions).
- someone connected with the Sydney Swans, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
- A surname transferred from the nickname.
- A number of places in the United States:
- A township and unincorporated community therein, in Noble County, Indiana.
- A minor city in Marion County, Iowa.
- An unincorporated community and township in Taney County, Missouri, named after Swan Creek.
- An unincorporated community in Smith County, Texas.
- An unincorporated community in the town of Frankfort, Marathon County, Wisconsin.
- Other townships, in Illinois, Nebraska and Ohio, listed under Swan Township.
- A local government area in Perth, Western Australia; in full, the City of Swan.
- someone connected with Swansea City Football Club, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
- Acronym of syndrome without a name.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swenh₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *swónh₂-osder. Proto-Germanic *swanaz Proto-West Germanic *swan Old English swan Middle English swan English swan From Middle English swan, from Old English swan, from Proto-West Germanic *swan, from Proto-Germanic *swanaz (“swan”, literally “the singing bird”), from Proto-Indo-European *swonh₂-/*swenh₂- (“to sing, make sound”). Cognate with West Frisian swan, Low German Swaan, swan, Dutch zwaan, German Schwan, Danish svane, Norwegian svane, Swedish svan. Related also to Old English ġeswin (“melody, song”), Old English swinsian (“to make melody”). Further cognates include (possibly) Russian звон (zvon, “ring, chime”); Latin sonus (“sound”), Sanskrit स्वन् (svan, “sound”). Doublet of sound.