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.
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.
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
- cast pearls before swine
- Gadarene swine
- go the entire swine
- mereswine
- microswine
- pearls before swine
- seaswine
- swinebread
- swine-bread
- swinecote
- swine fever
- swine flesh
- swine-flesh
- swineflesh
- swine flu
- swineherd
- swineherder
- swineherding
- swinehood
- swine-hound
- swinehound
- swine influenza
- swinelike
- swineling
- swineman
- swinepox
- swinery
- swinestone
- swinesty
- swineyard
- swinish
- throw pearls before swine
Translations
pig — see pig
contemptible person
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See also
- Appendix:English collective nouns
Middle English
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