swine

views updated May 18 2018

swine / swīn/ • n. (pl. same) 1. a pig.2. (pl. same or swines) inf. a person regarded by the speaker with contempt and disgust: what an arrogant, unfeeling swine!DERIVATIVES: swin·ish adj.swin·ish·ly adv.swin·ish·ness n.

swine

views updated Jun 08 2018

swine OE. swīn = OS., OHG. swīn (Du. swijn, G. schwein), ON. svin, Goth. swein :- Gmc. *swīnam, sb. use of n. of adj. (cf. L. suīnus, OSl. svin pert. to swine, and see -INE1), f. IE. *sū̆-, *suw-, repr. by L. sūs, etc. (see SOW1). Comp. swineherd (HERD2) late OE. swȳnhyrde.