swine
English
Etymology
From Middle English swyn, swin, from Old English swīn, from Proto-West Germanic *swīn, from Proto-Germanic *swīną, from an adjectival form of Proto-Indo-European *suH- (“pig”), equivalent to sow + -en.
Cognates
Related to West Frisian swyn, Low German Swien, Dutch zwijn, German Schwein, Danish and Swedish svin, and more distantly to Polish świnia, Russian свинья́ (svinʹjá), Latin sūinus, Latin sūs, Ancient Greek ὗς (hûs), Persian خوک (xuk).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /swaɪn/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -aɪn
Noun
swine (plural swine or swines)
- (plural swine) A pig (the animal).
- (derogatory) A contemptible person (plural swines).
- (slang, derogatory) A police officer; a "pig".
- (slang, derogatory) Something difficult or awkward; a pain.
- That old car is a swine to manoeuvre.
Translations
pig — see pig
contemptible person
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Usage notes
In its literal sense, swine is often used, like cattle, as an uncountable plurale tantum: 200 head of swine.
Derived terms
- African swine fever virus
- mereswine
- swineflesh
- swine flu
- swineherd
- swine influenza
See also
- Appendix:English collective nouns
Noun
swine
- (archaic) plural of sow
Anagrams
- Wenis, Wiens, Wines, sewin, sinew, swein, we'ins, wenis, wines, wisen
Middle English
Noun
swine
- Alternative form of swyn