swayn
Middle English
Alternative forms
- sweine, sweyn, sueyn, swain, sweyn, swein, swaine, sweyne, swane
Etymology
From Old English sweġen, from Old Norse sveinn, from Proto-Germanic *swainaz. Doublet of swon.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /swɛi̯n/
Noun
swayn (plural swaynes)
- squire, attendant of a knight
- servant, attendant
- young man
- commoner
Derived terms
- botswain
- cokswain
Descendants
- English: swain
- Scots: swaine, swane
References
- “swein (n.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-03.