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)

  1. (plural swine) A pig (the animal).
  2. (derogatory) A contemptible person (plural swines).
  3. (slang, derogatory) A police officer; a "pig".
  4. (slang, derogatory) Something difficult or awkward; a pain.
    That old car is a swine to manoeuvre.

Translations
pig — see pig

Usage notes

In its literal sense, swine is often used, like cattle, as an uncountable plurale tantum: 200 head of swine.

Derived terms

See also
  • Appendix:English collective nouns

Noun

swine

  1. (archaic) plural of sow

Anagrams

Middle English

Noun

swine

  1. Alternative form of swyn
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