Etymology dictionary
suspect (n.) — swatch (n.)
suspect (n.)
"a suspected person," especially "one imagined on more or less evidence to have committed a crime or offense," 1590s, from suspect (adj.). Earlier as a noun it meant "a suspicion, mistrust" (late 14c.), especially in have (or hold) in suspect "be suspicious of," from noun use of Medieval Latin suspectus.
suspect (adj.)
early 14c., "suspected of wrongdoing, under or open to suspicion; of dubious or bad character;" mid-14c., "regarded with mistrust, liable to arouse suspicion," from Old French suspect (14c.) and directly from Latin suspectus "suspected, regarded with suspicion or mistrust." This is the past participle of suspicere "look up at, look upward," figuratively "look up to, admire, respect;" also "look at secretly, look askance at," hence, figuratively, "mistrust, regard with suspicion." It is from an assimilated form of sub "up to" (see sub-) + specere "to look at" (from PIE root *spek- "to observe").
The notion seems to be "look at secretly," hence, "look at distrustfully." Related: Suspectly.
suspect (v.)
mid-15c., "imagine (someone) to be guilty on slight or no proof; hold to be uncertain, doubt, mistrust," from suspect (adj.) and in part from French suspecter or directly from Latin suspectare "to mistrust," frequentative of suspicere.
In the general sense "imagine to exist, fancy as possible or likely," by 1540s. As "hold to be uncertain, doubt, mistrust" by 1560s. Related: Suspected; suspecting.
suspend (v.)
c. 1300, suspenden, "bar or exclude temporarily from some function or privilege;" also "set aside (a law, etc.)" and in a general sense of "cause to cease for a time," from Old French sospendre "remove from office; hang up" (12c.), or directly from Latin suspendere "hang up, kill by hanging; make uncertain, render doubtful; stay, stop, interrupt, set aside temporarily." This is from assimilated form of sub "up from under" (see sub-) + pendere "to hang, cause to hang; weigh" (from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin").
In English, the literal, transitive sense of "cause to hang by a support from above" is recorded from mid-15c. The sense of "hold undetermined, refrain from concluding" (of judgments, etc.) is by 1550s. The intransitive meaning "cease from operation for a time, stop" (payments, work, etc.) is from 1570s. Related: Suspended; suspending.
suspended (adj.)
1530s, "temporarily deprived of privilege," past-participle adjective from suspend. The general meaning "interrupted, temporarily stopped" is attested by 1782, in suspended animation "state of temporary insensibility." In law, suspended sentence, for one imposed but (on condition) not carried out, is so called by 1833.
In music, of a tone from one chord extended with temporary dissonance into the following one, by 1853. The etymological meaning "hung from something" is attested in English by 1796. Middle English used suspensile "hanging, elevated" for the wondrous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
suspenders (n.)
"straps for holding up trousers, etc.," 1806, American English, plural of suspender "one who or that which causes to hang by support from above" (1520s, originally "one who puts a stop to"), agent noun from suspend (v.).
Anatomy, botany, etc. tend to use suspensor (1746) for "that from which something is suspended," from a Medieval Latin agent noun from the Latin verb; they also take the word in Latin form suspensorium; see suspensory.
suspension (n.)
early 15c., suspensioun, "a temporary halting or deprivation" (of office, privilege, etc.), from Latin suspensionem (nominative suspensio) "the act or state of hanging up, a vaulting," noun of action from past-participle stem of suspendere "to hang up, cause to hang, suspend." This is from assimilated form of sub "up from under" (see sub-) + pendere "to hang, cause to hang; weigh" (from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin").
The earlier verbal noun was suspending (late 14c.). The general sense of "action of stopping; condition of being stopped" is from c. 1600. As "action of keeping in abeyance a mental action" (decision, judgment, etc.) by 1560s. Suspension of disbelief is from Coleridge:
The classical literal meaning "action of hanging by a support from above" is attested in English from 1540s (it is attested from early 15c. as "execution by hanging").
The meaning "particles held up or kept from sinking in liquid without dissolving" is from 1707. Suspension-bridge, one in which the roadway hangs suspended from chains, ropes, or wire cables anchored to supports, is recorded by 1819 (earlier suspended bridge, 1796).
suspense (n.)
c. 1400, in legal language, "abeyance, temporary cessation" (of a right, etc.); "state of not being carried out" (of legal matters), from Anglo-French suspens (in en suspens "in abeyance," c. 1300), Old French sospense "delay, deferment (of judgment), act of suspending" and directly from Latin suspensus, past participle of suspendere "to hang up; interrupt" (see suspend).
The meaning "state of mental uncertainty with more or less anxiety" (mid-15c.) seems to be from the legal meaning, perhaps via the notion of "awaiting an expected decision," or that of "state of having the mind or thoughts suspended."
The general sense of "state of being suspended" is from 1550s. As the name for a genre of novels, short stories, etc., it is attested from 1951.
suspenseful (adj.)
"doubtful and apprehensive about an outcome," 1630s, from suspense + -ful. The modern word might be a 19c. re-formation with a sense of "full of suspense." Related: Suspensefully. Middle English had suspensile for "suspended, elevated;" suspensory for "supporting something hanging from above."
suspensive (adj.)
1540s, "liable to be suspended;" 1620s, "tending to suspend, causing interruption; doubtful;" from French suspensif, from past-participle stem of Latin suspendere "hang up; make uncertain" (see suspend (v.)).
suspensory (adj.)
early 15c. (Chauliac), suspensorie, "adapted or serving to support a dependent part or organ," from Medieval Latin suspensorius, from suspensor, agent noun from Latin suspendere "hang, cause to hang" (see suspend). Also as a noun in reference to a type of sling (early 15c.), later also "a suspensory ligament."
suspercollated (adj.)
"hanged by the neck," a jocular nonce-word coined by Thackeray from sus. per. col., an abbreviation of Latin suspensio per collum ("hanging by the neck") found in old record and account books of jails.
suspicious (adj.)
mid-14c., suspecious, "regarded with or exciting suspicion, open to doubt;" late 14c., "full of suspicion, inclined to suspect or believe ill;" from Anglo-French suspecious, Old French suspicios (Modern French suspectieux), from Latin suspiciosus, suspitiosus "exciting suspicion, causing mistrust," also "full of suspicion, ready to suspect," from stem of suspicere "look up at" (see suspect (adj.)). Related: suspiciously; suspiciousness. In Middle English also suspitious (from Old French variant suspitieux).
The senses that flow in opposite directions, already present in classical Latin, have caused continued confusion. The word also is attested in English from late 15c. as "indicating suspicion" and also "liable to cause suspicion." Poe (c. 1845) proposed suspectful should take one of the senses (it had been used since 1580s as "mistrustful"). Other available words include suspicable "liable to suspect; that may be suspected" (1610s, from Late Latin suspicabilis "conjectural"); suspicional "of or pertaining to suspicion" (1890, in psychology). Suspectable "open to suspicion" is from 1748, while suspectuous "inclined to feel suspicion" is by 1650s.
suspicion (n.)
c. 1300, suspecioun, "act of suspecting; unverified conjecture of wrongdoing; mistrust, distrust with but slight proof; feeling or passion excited by signs of danger," from Anglo-French suspecioun, corresponding to Old French suspicion, sospeçon "mistrust, suspicion" (Modern French soupçon) and directly from Late Latin suspectionem (nominative suspectio) "mistrust, suspicion, fear, awe," noun of state from past-participle stem of Latin suspicere "look up at" (see suspect (adj.)).
The spelling in English was influenced 14c. by learned Old French forms closer to Latin suspicionem (compare soupcon).
It is attested by late 14c. as "a suspicious notion," by c. 1400 as "imagination of something as possible or likely." As a verb meaning "to suspect," it figures in literary representations of U.S. Western (Kentucky) slang from 1830s. Middle English and early Modern English also had suspection.
"Suspicion" words in other Indo-European languages also tend to be words for "think" or "look" with prefixes meaning "under, behind;" such as Greek hypopsia (from hypo "under" + opsis "sight"), hyponoia (noein "to think"); Lettish aizduomas (aiz "behind" + duomat "think"); Russian podozrenie (Slavic podu "under," Old Church Slavonic zireti "see, look"); Dutch achterdocht (achter "behind" + denken "to think").
suspiral (n.)
"a breathing hole or vent, channel for air," c. 1400, from Old French souspirail, from Latin suspiraclum, from suspirare "draw a deep breath" (see suspire).
suspire (v.)
c. 1500, suspiren, "to sigh; fetch a long, deep breath," originally figurative, "yearn" (for something), "aspire (to); strive," from Anglo-French suspirer, Old French sospirer (Modern French soupirer) and directly from Latin suspirare "to draw a deep breath, heave a sigh," from assimilated form of sub "under" (see sub-) + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit (n.)).
From 1590s as "to breathe;" 1650s as "breathe with difficulty." Related: Suspired; suspiring.
suspiration (n.)
"act of sighing, the fetching of a long, deep breath," early 15c. (Chauliac), suspiracioun, from Latin suspirationem (nominative suspiratio), noun of action from past-participle stem of suspirare "draw a deep breath" (see suspire).
suspirous (adj.)
"sighing," 1751, probably from suspire (v.) + -ous. Medieval Latin suspirosus meant "breathing hard, asthmatic."
Susquehanna
river through Pennsylvania, named for the Susquehannocks, a native people who lived along the southern reaches of it at the time of European contact, "An Algonquian name for an Iroquoian people; it has been translated as 'people at the falls' or 'roily water people'" [Bright].
suss (v.)
"to figure out, investigate and discover," 1966, earlier "to suspect" (1953, police jargon), a slang shortening of suspect (v.). Sus or suss (n.) is attested from 1936 as "suspicion" (of having committed a crime), generally "suspicious behavior, loitering;" also "a suspect." Related: Sussed.
Sussex
county in southeast England, from Old English Suþ Seaxe "(land of the) South Saxons;" see south + Saxon.
sustain (v.)
late 13c., sustenen, transitive, "provide the necessities of life to;" by early 14c. as "give support to (an effort or cause); also in physical senses, "keep from falling or sinking, hold up or upright;" also "give assistance to; keep (a quarrel, etc.) going." It is from the stem of Old French sostenir, sustenir "hold up, bear; suffer, endure" (13c.), from Latin sustinere "hold up, hold upright; furnish with means of support; bear, undergo, endure." This is from an assimilated form of sub "up from below" (see sub-) + tenere "to hold" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch").
The meaning "continue, keep up" (an action, etc.) is from early 14c. The sense of "withstand, endure (pain hardship, a shock) without failing or yielding" is from c. 1400. The legal sense of "admit as correct and valid, uphold the rightfulness of" is from early 15c. Also from early 15c. as "suffer (a loss)."
The past-participle adjective sustained is attested by 1775 as "kept up or maintained uniformly," originally of music notes; the piano's sustaining pedal is so called by 1889.
sustainable (adj.)
1610s, "bearable," a sense now obsolete, from sustain + -able. It is attested from 1845 in the sense "defensible, capable of being upheld;" by 1965 with the meaning "capable of being continued or maintained at a certain level;" sustainable growth also is recorded from 1965. Related: Sustainably.
sustainment (n.)
mid-15c., sustenement, "means of support," from Old French sostenement, from sostenir (see sustain). It is attested from 1560s as "act of supporting,"
sustainability (n.)
1907, in reference to a legal objection, from sustainable + -ity. General sense (in economics, agriculture, ecology) by 1972 in economics, 1979 in conservation and environmentalism.
sustenance (n.)
c. 1300, sustenaunce, "that which is essential to sustain life; food, victuals, provisions," also "means of living, income, wealth," from Anglo-French sustenance, sustenaunce, Old French sostenance "support, aid" (Modern French soutenance), from Late Latin sustinentia "endurance," abstract noun from present-participle stem of Latin sustinere "to hold up" (see sustain).
The meaning "action of sustaining life by food" is from late 14c. as is that of "maintenance, care, or support of someone." Also from late 14c. as "physical support from below."
Related: Sustenant; English 15c.-17c. had sustentacle "that which upholds or supports." Noun of action sustention "act of sustaining" is attested by 1868. Sustainment "maintenance, support; one who sustains" (mid-15c.) is from Old French soustenement.
sustentation (n.)
late 14c., sustentacioun, "quality of being able to hold or support (someone or something); maintenance or continuance (of something)," from Anglo-French, Old French sustentacion, sostentacion "sustaining of life" and directly from Latin sustentationem (nominative sustentatio) "maintenance." This is a noun of action from past-participle stem of sustentare "hold upright; feed, nourish, support; hold out, endure, suffer," frequentative of sustinere "to hold up" (see sustain).
The physical sense of "support, preservation from falling or sinking" is by c. 1400. The meaning "provision (of someone) with a livelihood or means of support" is from early 15c.; that of "maintenance or support of life, sustenance" is by 1530s. Related: Sustentative.
susurrant (adj.)
"murmuring, sighing, whispering," 1791, from Latin susurrantem (nominative susurrans), present participle of susurrare "to hum, murmur" (see susurration).
susurration (n.)
"a whispering, a murmur," c. 1400, susurracioun, from Latin susurrationem (nominative susurratio), noun of action from past-participle stem of susurrare "to hum, murmur," from susurrus "a murmur, whisper." This is held to be a reduplication of a PIE imitative *swer- "to buzz, whisper" (source also of Sanskrit svarati "sounds, resounds," Greek syrinx "flute," Latin surdus "dull, mute," Old Church Slavonic svirati "to whistle," Lithuanian surma "pipe, shawm," German schwirren "to buzz," Old English swearm "a swarm").
susurrous (adj.)
"of the nature of a whisper, full of rustles and whispers," 1824, from Latin susurrus "a whispering" (see susurration) + -ous.
susurrus (n.)
"soft murmuring or humming sound," 1809, earlier as a medical Latin word in English, from Latin susurrus, literally "a humming, muttering, whispering" (see susurration).
Middle English had susurrus as "the practice of whispering malicious remarks," from Latin susurrones.
sutile (adj.)
"done by stitching or sewing," 1680s, from Latin sutilis "sewed or bound together," from sut-, past-participle stem of suere "to sew" (from PIE root *syu- "to bind, sew").
sutler (n.)
formerly also suttler, "person who follows an army to sell provisions, liquor, etc. to soldiers," 1580s, from Middle Dutch soeteler "small tradesman, peddler, victualer, camp cook" (Dutch zoetelaar), cognate with Middle Low German suteler, sudeler "person who performs dirty tasks," Middle High German sudelen "to cook badly," Middle Dutch soetelen "to cook badly."
Probably it is related to Dutch zieder, German sieden "to seethe," from Proto-Germanic *suth-, from PIE root *seut- "to seethe, boil" (see seethe). The original citation in English, in military regulations, notes it as a Dutch word. Related: Suttlery.
Sutra (n.)
in Buddhism, a series of aphorisms concerning ceremonies, rites, and conduct, from life's duties to household practices, 1801, from Sanskrit sutram "rule," literally "string, thread" (as a measure of straightness), from sivyati "sew" (from PIE root *syu- "to bind, sew"). Applied also to rules of grammar, law, philosophy, etc., and their commentaries.
suttee (n.)
"self-cremation of a Hindu widow on her husband's funeral pyre," 1786, from Hindi, from Sanskrit sati "virtuous woman, faithful wife," the word for the self-immolating widow, used also of her burning, fem. of sat "good, wise, virtuous, true," literally "existing," present participle of asmi "I am" (from PIE root *es- "to be"). Properly, the word for the woman who does so. The custom was abolished in British India in 1829.
suttle (v.)
"carry on the business of a sutler, peddle," 1640s, perhaps a back-formation from suttler, variant of sutler. Compare Middle Dutch soetelen, Low German suddeln. Related: Suttled; suttling.
suture (n.)
early 15c. (Chauliac), "act of sewing," specifically "surgical stitching of the lips or edges of a wound, etc.," from Latin sutura "a seam, a sewing together," from sutus, past participle of suere "to sew" (from PIE root *syu- "to bind, sew"). The anatomical meaning "a seam, a line of joining or closure" is from 1570s; the general sense of point of union of parts or sections" is from c. 1600. Related: Sutural; suturation.
suture (v.)
"sew together with a suture; unite by sutures," 1777, from suture (n.). Related: Sutured; suturing; suturation.
SUV
by 1988, an abbreviation of sport/utility vehicle (itself attested from 1982).
suzerain (n.)
"sovereign, ruler, feudal lord or baron," 1807, suzereign, from French suzerain (14c., Old French suserain), noun use of an adjective meaning "sovereign but not supreme," from the adverb sus "up, above," on analogy of soverain (see sovereign (adj.)). Old French sus is from Vulgar Latin *susum, from Latin sursum "upward, above," a contraction of subversum, from subvertere "turn upside down, overturn, overthrow" (see subvert). The fem. form is suzeraine (1880).
suzerainty (n.)
late 15c., suserente, "supremacy," from Old French suserenete "office or jurisdiction of a suzerain" (Modern French suzeraineté), from suserain (see suzerain). The modern use, "position, rank, dignity, or power of a suzerain" (by 1823) probably is a re-borrowing and for the first 20 years or so it was treated as a French word in English.
Suzie
also Susie, familiar form of fem. proper name Susan or Susanna. Suzie Wong is in reference to "The World of Suzie Wong," 1957 novel by R.L. Mason featuring a Hong Kong prostitute. Susie Q as the name of a popular dance or dance move is from 1936.
s.v.
see sub voce.
svelte (adj.)
"slender, lithe," 1817, svelt, from French svelte "slim, slender" (17c.), from Italian svelto "slim, slender," originally "pulled out, lengthened," past participle of svellere "to pluck or root out," from Vulgar Latin *exvellere, from Latin ex- "out" (see ex-) + vellere "to pluck, stretch."
According to de Vaan, this is reconstructed to be from PIE *wel-no-, suffixed form of *uelh- "to strike" (source also of Hittite ualh- "to hit, strike," Greek aliskomai "to be caught").
Svengali
"one who exerts controlling or mesmeric influence on another," by 1914, from the hypnotist character of that name in the novel "Trilby" (1894) by George Du Maurier.
swab (v.)
"clean (the decks of a ship) with water and a swab," 1719, possibly a back-formation from swabber (see swab (n.)). Related: Swabbed; swabbing. Swabification "mopping" is attested by 1833.
swab (n.)
1650s, "mop made of rope or yarn," used for cleaning the deck of a ship, etc., from swabber "mop for cleaning a ship's deck" (c. 1600), from Dutch zwabber, akin to West Frisian swabber "mop," from Proto-Germanic *swabb-, a word perhaps of imitative origin and denoting back-and-forth motion, especially in liquid. There was a swabbing (n.) in Middle English, but the sense is unclear.
The non-nautical use in reference to anything used for mopping up is by 1787. As "cloth or sponge on a handle to cleanse or wet the mouth of the sick, etc.," it is attested from 1854. By 1863 as a device for cleaning the bore of a firearm.
The slang meaning "a sailor" is attested by 1798, is short for swabber "member of a ship's crew assigned to swab decks" (1590s), which by c. 1600 was being used in a broader sense of "awkward fellow, one who behaves like a low-ranking sailor, one fit only to use a swab."
Swabia
former duchy in central Germany, from Medieval Latin Suabia (German Schwaben), named for the Germanic tribe called by the Romans Suebi, said to be from Proto-Germanic *sweba, perhaps ultimately from PIE root *s(w)e-, pronoun of the third person and reflexive (referring back to the subject of a sentence), also used in forms denoting the speaker's social group, "(we our-)selves."
Swabian (adj.)
1785, "of, pertaining to, or native to Swabia;" see Swabia + -an. Middle English had Sweve "a Swabian" (late 14c.), from Latin Suevus. The Swabian emperors (1138-1254) of Germany were so called because the founder of the line had been duke of Swabia.
swaddle (v.)
"bind or wrap (an infant) with long strips of cloth," Middle English suedel, a 14c. alteration of swathlen (c. 1200), which probably is a frequentative form of Old English swaþian (see swathe). For the -thl- to -dl- change, compare fiddle. Related: Swaddled; swaddling.
Phrase swaddling clothes for "band of linen for swaddling an infant" is from Coverdale's 1535 translation of Luke ii.7. Wycliffe used swathing-clothes (late 14c.).
As a noun from early 14c., swathe, "bandage, long ornamental band or strip of cloth."
swag (v.)
"move heavily or unsteadily," 1520s, now provincial or archaic, probably from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse sveggja "to swing, sway," from the same source as Old English swingan "to swing" (see swing (v.)). Earlier it meant "swing an object" (c. 1400), "swing or shake freely" (late 15c.). Related: Swagged; swagging (mid-15c.).
swag (n.)
1650s, "a lurching or swaying, an unequal motion," from swag (v.).
The meaning "ornamental festoon" (1794) is said to be probably a separate development from the verb (but compare swage). The decorative arts sense of "informal cluster (of flowers, etc.)" is by 1794.
The colloquial sense of "promotional material" (from recording companies, etc.) was in use by 2001, perhaps as an extension of the decorative sense. But swag also was English criminal's slang for "thief's plunder" by 1794. This might be related to earlier senses of "round bag" (c. 1300, swagge), which is perhaps from Old Norse.
In 19c. English slang swag also was "small, trifling articles and trashy goods," as in swag-shop (1829); a swagman (1851) was a seller of such articles.
Swag lamp, overhead light powered by an electrical wire hung from the ceiling in swags, is attested from 1966.
swage (v.)
"shape or bend by use of a tool," 1831, from swage (n.), also swedge, "tool or die for bending cold metal" (1812), from French suage, according to Century Dictionary from suer "to sweat."
Uncertain connection to swage "ornamental molding, decorative strip or border" on a bowl, basin, etc." (late 14c.), from Old French souage (Modern French suage), which, according to Klein, is from soue "rope," from Vulgar Latin *soca, probably of Gaulish origin (compare Breton sug "cord").
Swage-block is attested by 1843.
swager (n.)
"one who shapes by means of a swage," 1881, agent noun from swage (v.). In Middle English it was the name of a tool used to make decorative grooves or borders in metalwork (early 15c.).
swagger (v.)
1580s, "to strut in a defiant or insolent manner," probably a frequentative form of swag (v.) "to sway." The earliest recorded uses are in Shakespeare ("Midsummer Night's Dream," "2 Henry IV," "King Lear"). The meaning "to boast or brag" is from 1590s. Related: Swaggered; swaggering. The noun is attested from 1725, "insolent strut; piece of bluster; boastful manner."
swaggerer (n.)
"blusterer; bully; boastful, noisy fellow," 1590s, agent noun from swagger (v.).
Swahili
name of a Bantu people inhabiting the coast of southeastern Africa, 1814, literally "coast-dwellers," from Arabic sawahil, plural of sahil "coast" + ethnic suffix -i.
sway (v.)
early 14c., sweien, "move, go, go quickly;" also transitive, "move (something) along, carry," probably from a Scandinavian source (compare Old Norse sveigja "to bend, swing, give way," Old Danish svegja) and perhaps merged with an unrecorded Old English cognate. The whole group might be related to swag (v.) and swing (v.).
The sense of "swing, waver, move in a swaying or sweeping motion" is from late 14c. The meaning "move or bend from side to side," as by excess of weight, is from c. 1500. The transitive sense "cause to move from side to side" is from 1550s (according to OED, it was not common before 19c.) and is perhaps from Low German. The meaning "lean away from the perpendicular" is by 1570s. The figurative sense "cause to be directed toward one side, prejudice" is from 1590s. Related: Swayed; swaying.
sway (n.)
late 14c., "movement from side to side, circular movement," from sway (v.). The meaning "controlling influence" (in under the sway of, etc.), is from 1510s, from a transitive sense of the verb in Dutch and other languages. Century Dictionary suggests this is "probably in allusion to the sway of the scepter, or of the sword, embodying and illustrating government."
swain (n.)
mid-12c., swein, "young man attendant upon a knight," from Old Norse sveinn "boy, servant, attendant," from Proto-Germanic *swainaz "attendant, servant," properly "one's own (man)," from PIE *swoi-no-, from root *s(w)e- "oneself, alone, apart" (see idiom).
It is cognate with Old English swan "shepherd, swineherd," Old Saxon swen, Old High German swein, but not directly related to swine. Also in Middle English "a common man." The meaning "country or farm laborer" is from 1570s; that of "lover, wooer" (in pastoral poetry) is from 1580s.
SWAK
acronym for sealed with a kiss, attested from 1911, in a legal publication quoting a letter from 1909:
Popularized in soldiers' letters home in World War I. It perhaps also was felt to echo the sound of a vigorous kiss. Compare Middle English swack "a hard blow" (late 14c.).
swale (n.)
"low, hollow place," often boggy, 1580s, a special use of Scottish swaill "low, hollow place," or East Anglian dialectal swale "shady place" (c. 1400); both of them probably from Old Norse svalr "cool," from Proto-Germanic *swalaz.
A local word in the eastern counties of England, in Virginia and vicinity it was given broad application, later extended to the lower tracts of the prairie (19c.) and in 20c. to landscaping features in suburban developments.
swallow (v.)
"ingest through the throat" (transitive), Middle English swolwen, from Old English swelgan "swallow, imbibe, absorb" (class III strong verb; past tense swealg, past participle swolgen), from Proto-Germanic *swelgan/*swelhan (source also of Old Saxon farswelgan, Old Norse svelgja "to swallow," Middle Dutch swelghen, Dutch zwelgen "to gulp, swallow," Old High German swelahan "to swallow," German schwelgen "to revel"). This is held to be from PIE root *swel- (1) "to eat, drink" (source also of Iranian *khvara- "eating").
As "drown, engulf" (of the sea, the grave, etc.) by late 12c. The figurative sense of "consume, destroy" is attested from mid-14c. The meaning "accept (belief, opinion, statement) without question, take into the mind readily and credulously" is from 1590s. The intransitive sense "perform the act of swallowing" is from c. 1700. Related: Swallowed; swallowing.
swallow (n.2)
"an act of swallowing," 1822, from swallow (v.). In late Old English and Middle English it meant "gulf, abyss, whirlpool; hole in the earth" into which a stream disappears underground; also, in Middle English, "cavity of the throat, gullet." Compare Old Norse svelgr "whirlpool," literally "devourer, swallower." The meaning "that which is swallowed, as much as one can swallow at once, mouthful" is from 1861.
swallow (n.1)
type of migratory bird, notable for its twittering cry; swift, arcing flight; and pointed wings and forked tail; Middle English swalwe, from Old English swealwe "swallow," from Proto-Germanic *swalwon (source also of Old Saxon, Old Norse, Old Frisian, Swedish svala, Danish svale, Middle Dutch zwalewe, Dutch zwaluw, Old High German swalawa, German Schwalbe), from PIE *swol-wi- (source also of Russian solowej, Slovak slavik, Polish słowik "nightingale").
The original sense of the word is disputed. The birds are popularly regarded as harbingers of summer. Halliwell, "Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words" (1847) has swallow-day "April 15."
The Latin name was hirundo, hence the genus name. Some sources propose an onomatopoeic origin for this, which de Vaan finds "possible, but the suffix remains unclear;" he suggests as more likely the suggestion that the swallow is named for its forked tail, which could connect hirundo and wand (n.).
The swallow-hawk (by 1842, also swallow-tailed hawk, 1711) is so called for the shape and the mode of its flight.
Swallows building nests on or near a house is considered good luck. But swallow-struck was "bewitched or injured by a swallow."
swallowtail (n.)
also swallow-tail, "a swallow's tail" or something held to resemble the bird's deeply forked tail, from swallow (n.1) + tail (n.). It is attested by 1540s as a type of arrowhead. In reference to a type of butterfly, by 1776; as a type of coat, by 1835.
As an adjective from 1590s. Related: Swallow-tailed.
swam
past tense of swim (v.).
swami (n.)
1773, "Hindu idol," later, "Hindu religious teacher" (1901), from Hindi swami "master" (used as a term of address to a Brahmin), from Sanskrit svamin "lord, prince, master, (one's own) master," from sva-s "one's own" (from PIE *s(u)w-o- "one's own," from root *s(w)e-; see idiom) + amah "pressure, vehemence."
swamp (n.)
"piece of wet, spongy land; low ground saturated by water," unfit for agriculture or pasturage, c. 1500 (implied in swamwatyr "swamp-water"), a word of uncertain origin.
Perhaps [Barnhart] it is a dialectal survival from an Old English cognate of Old Norse svöppr "sponge, fungus," from Proto-Germanic *swampuz. It is traditionally connected with Middle English sompe "morass, swamp," which probably is from Middle Dutch somp or Middle Low German sump "swamp" (see sump). All of these likely are ultimately related, and, via the notion of "spongy ground," from PIE *swombho- "spongy; mushroom."
Swamp (n.) by itself is first attested 1624 in Capt. John Smith's description of Virginia), and has been more used in U.S. than Britain. It also is attested as swang or swank in Northern dialect.
Swamp-fever "malarial fever" is by 1870. Swamp-oak is from 1680s, in reference to various species, American English. Swamp Yankee "rural, rustic New Englander" is attested from 1941. Thornton's "American Glossary" (1912) has swamp-angel "dweller in a swamp;" swamp-law "might makes right."
swamp (v.)
"overwhelm, sink in water (as if in a swamp)," 1772, of a boat, etc., from swamp (n.). The figurative sense of "plunge into difficulties, sink in troubles as if in water" is from 1818. Related: Swamped; swamping.
swamper (n.)
1735, "one who lives in a swampy district," from swamp (n.). The meaning "workman who clears a lumber road through swamp or forest" is 1857, American English; the meaning "all-purpose assistant in a restaurant or saloon" is from 1907.
swampy (adj.)
"of the nature of, abounding in, or consisting of swamps," 1690s, from swamp (n.) + -y (2). Related: Swampiness.
swamp-land (n.)
also swampland, "land covered with swamps," 1660s, from swamp (n.) + land (n.).
swan (n.)
large, web-footed swimming bird, stately and graceful in the water, noted for its long neck and white down; Old English swan "swan," from Proto-Germanic *swanaz "singer" (source also of Old Saxon swan, Old Norse svanr, Danish svane, Swedish svan, Middle Dutch swane, Dutch zwaan, Old High German swan, German Schwan), probably etymologically "the singing bird" (from PIE root *swen- "to make sound"). If so, it is related to Old English geswin "melody, song" and swinsian "to make melody."
In classical mythology the bird was sacred to Apollo and to Venus. The ancient Indo-European supernatural swan-maiden was so called by mythographers from 1829 (from German). Swan dive is recorded from 1898. Swanherd "one who tends swans" is late 15c. Swannage (late 14c.) was a payment for the right to keep swans.
Swanee
river in Georgia and Florida, featured in Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home," usually Suwanee, sometimes said to be a corruption of Spanish San Juan [Room]; but Bright says the river name is from the Cherokee village of Sawani, for which no etymology is offered.
swang
obsolete past tense of swing (v.).
swank (adj.)
"stylish, classy, posh," 1913, from earlier noun or verb (see below); "A midland and s.w. dial. word taken into general slang use at the beginning of the 20th cent." [OED].
Swank (n.) "ostentatious behavior" is noted in 1854 as a Northampton word ("what a swank he cuts!"); swank (v.) is attested from 1809 as "to strut, behave ostentatiously."
Perhaps the group is ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to swing, turn, toss" (source also of Middle High German swanken "to sway, totter, turn, swing," Old High German swingan "to swing;" see swing (v.)). If so, OED suggests (2nd ed. print, 1989), it is perhaps from the notion of "swinging" the body ostentatiously (compare swagger). Related: Swankpot "ostentatious or boastful person" (1914).
A separate swank word-thread in English is from Old English swancor "pliant, bending," also held to be from the swing root (compare German schwank "pliant," Old Norse svangr "thin, slender, slim"). From this comes a number of words now dialectal or obscure, such as swanky (n.) "active or clever young fellow" (c. 1500), also "small beer, weak fermented drink" (1841); swanking "supple, active."
swanky (adj.)
"imposing, stylish," 1842, from swank in the old "strut" sense (see swank (adj.)) + -y (2). Related: swankiness.
swan-neck (n.)
in reference to parts or objects resembling the curved neck of a swan, by 1680s, from swan (n.) + neck (n.).
swan's-down (n.)
c. 1600, "the down or under-plumage of a swan," used as trimming for garments, etc., later for powder-puffs, from genitive of swan (n.) + down (n.1). Extended 19c. to fine, soft, think cloths.
Swansea
city in South Wales, a Scandinavian name, probably literally "Sveinn's Island." See swain + island.
swan-song (n.)
"the fabled song of a dying swan," 1831, from swan (n.) + song (n.); a translation of German Schwanengesang. The singing of swans before death was alluded to by Chaucer (late 14c.). Hence, figuratively, "last work before a writer or composer's death" (by 1837).
swap (v.)
c. 1200, swappen, "to strike (with a sword, etc.), strike the hands together," senses now obsolete, a word of uncertain origin, possibly imitative of a hitting or slapping sound. By early 15c. as "strike with the hands."
The sense of "strike a bargain" (late 14c.), hence "to exchange, barter, trade" (by 1590s) perhaps are from the notion of slapping hands together as a sign of agreement in bargaining (as in strike a bargain; strike in this sense of "conclude, reach" is from 15c.). Related: Swapped; swapping. Swap-meet is attested from 1968, American English.
swap (n.)
"a barter, an exchange," 1620s; see swap (v.). Earlier it meant "a stoke, a blow, an act of striking" (mid-13c.); "blow, stroke, lash with a whip" (late 14c.).
sward (n.)
"grass-covered ground, grassy surface of land," c. 1300, "turf, sod," a specialized use from Old English sweard "skin, hide, rind" (of bacon, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *swardo- (source also of Old Frisian swarde "skin of the head," Middle Dutch swarde "rind of bacon," Dutch zwoord "rind of bacon," German Schwarte "thick, hard skin, rind," Old Norse svörþr "walrus hide"). Boutkan gives it no IE etymology and calls it "Probably a Northern European substratum word."
The meaning "sod, turf" developed from the notion of the "skin" of the earth (compare Old Norse grassvörðr, Danish grønsvær "greensward").
sware
obsolete or archaic past tense of swear (v.), common 15c.-17c. by analogy of past tense of bear (v.). A Middle English noun sware meant "an answer, a reply; speech, utterance," from Old English -swaru, second element in answer, and from the Old Norse cognate.
swarf (n.)
"grit and metal bits from a grinding tool," c. 1500, perhaps ultimately from Old English geswearf "filings," from sweorfan, or perhaps it is from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse svarf "file dust," related to sverfa "to file," from PIE *swerbh- "to turn, wipe off" (see swerve (v.)). The word was later used of the material cut out to make grooves of gramophone records (1935).
swarm (n.)
"cloud of honey-bees or other insects moving in a mass," Old English swearm "swarm of bees; multitude," from Proto-Germanic *swarmaz (source also of Old Saxon, Middle Low German swarm, Danish sværm "a swarm," Swedish svärm, Middle Dutch swerm, Old High German swaram, German Schwarm "swarm;" Old Norse svarmr "tumult").
Watkins, etc., derived this from a PIE imitative root *swer- "to buzz, whisper" (see susurration) on the notion of humming sound. But OED (2nd ed. print, 1989) suggests a connection with base of swerve and prehistoric sense of "agitated, confused, or deflected motion."
In reference to persons, the general sense of "great number; multitude; large, dense throng" is from early 15c.
swarm (v.1)
"climb (a tree, pole, etc.) by clasping with the arms and legs alternately; to shin," 1540s, a word of uncertain origin. "Perh. orig. a sailor's word borrowed from the Continent, but no trace of the meaning has been discovered for phonetically corresponding words" [OED, 2nd ed. print, 1989].
Also recorded as swarve (16c.) and in Northern dialects swarble, swarmle. Related: Swarmed; swarming.
swarm (v.2)
of bees, "leave a hive to start another," also "gather or move in a great numbers," late 14c., from swarm (n.). Compare Middle Dutch swarmen, Dutch zwermen, German schwärmen, Danish sværme. The sense of "be crowded, be thronged" (as in swarming with) is by 1590s. Related: Swarmed; swarming.
swart (adj.)
Old English sweart "black, being of a dark hue," in reference to night, clouds, also figurative, "wicked, infamous," from Proto-Germanic *swarta- (source also of Old Frisian, Old Saxon, and Middle Dutch swart, Dutch zwart, Old Norse svartr, German schwarz, Gothic swarts "dark-colored, black"), from PIE root *swordo- "dirty, dark, black" (source of sordid).
The native Germanic word, surviving in the Continental languages but displaced in English by black. Also in Old English in reference to skin color of persons. Related: Swartness; swartest.
swarthy (adj.)
"dark-colored, tawny," especially in reference to skin, 1580s, an unexplained alteration of swarty (1570s), from swart + -y (2). Related: Swarthiness. A swarthness is attested from 1520s.
swash (v.)
1580s, "spill or splash (water) about," possibly from wash (v.) with an intensifying s- (compare splash/plash etc.), or else imitative of the sound of water dashing against solid objects. Earlier it meant "make a noise of swords clashing" (1550s). Related: Swashed; swashing.
swash (n.)
1530s, expressing a blow or the fall of a heavy body, probably imitative. It also meant "pig-wash, filth, wet refuse" (1520s) and may have been imitative of the sound of water dashing against solid objects or a heavy blow on a yielding surface.
The meaning "a body of splashing water" is by 1670s; that of "a dashing or splashing" is from 1847. Compare swish-swash "inferior drink" (1540s); "violent or swaggering person" (1580s).
Swash-letters (1680s) are old-style italic capitals with flourished projections, introduced c. 1540 by Garamond; it is from obsolete swash (adj.) "inclined obliquely," a shortening of aswash "aslant."
swashbuckler (n.)
also swash-buckler, 1550s, "blustering, swaggering fighting man;" earlier simply swash, 1540s, from swash (n.) in obsolete sense of "fall of a blow," also used of the sound of clashing swords, + buckler "shield." The original sense seems to have been understood as "one who makes menacing noises by striking his or an opponent's shield."
swashbuckling (adj.)
also swash-buckling, "resembling or characteristic of a swashbuckler, noisily swaggering," 1690s, an adjective made to go with swashbuckler (q.v.).
swashbuckle (v.)
"play the swashbuckler, make a blustering show of force," 1897, back-formation from swashbuckling or swashbuckler.
swastika (n.)
"Greek cross with arms bent at right angles," 1871, from Sanskrit svastika-s, literally "being fortunate," from svasti-s "well-being, luck," from su- "well" (from PIE *(e)su- "good," originally a suffixed form of root *es- "to be") + as-, root of asti "(he) is," which also is from PIE root *es- "to be."
Also known as a gammadion (Byzantine), a cross cramponnee (heraldry), Thor's hammer, and, perhaps, fylfot. The sign was originally an ancient cosmic or religious symbol thought to bring good luck. Use of the word in English in reference to the Nazi emblem is by 1932. The German word was Hakenkreuz, literally "hook-cross."
S.W.A.T.
also SWAT, 1968, acronym said to be for Special Weapons and Tactics squad or team; or Special Weapons Attack Team.
swat (v.)
1796, "to strike, hit," an American and north of England dialect word, possibly an alteration of Middle English swap "to strike, smite" (see swap), probably ultimately of imitative origin. Related: Swatted; swatting. The noun is recorded from 1800, "a blow, a slap."
swatch (n.)
1510s, "countercheck of a tally," a Northumberland dialect word, later "a tally attached to cloth sent to be dyed" (1610s, in Yorkshire), a word of unknown origin. Century Dictionary compares swath.
The meaning "sample piece or strip of cloth cut off for a pattern or sample" is from 1640s. Swatch-book is attested by 1956.