swan
(noun) stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
affirm, verify, assert, avow, aver, swan, swear
(verb) to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; “Before God I swear I am innocent”
swan
(verb) sweep majestically; “Airplanes were swanning over the mountains”
roll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, drift, vagabond
(verb) move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; “The gypsies roamed the woods”; “roving vagabonds”; “the wandering Jew”; “The cattle roam across the prairie”; “the laborers drift from one town to the next”; “They rolled from town to town”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
swan (plural swans or swan)
Any of various species of large, long-necked waterfowl, of genus Cygnus (bird family: Anatidae), most of which have white plumage.
(figuratively) One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.
(heraldiccharge) This bird used as a heraldic charge, sometimes with a crown around its neck (e. g. the arms of Buckinghamshire).
swan (third-person singular simple present swans, present participle swanning, simple past and past participle swanned)
(British, intransitive) To travel or move about in an aimless, idle, or pretentiously casual way.
• In the sense “to travel”, usually used as part of the phrase “to swan about” or “to swan around”.
swan (third-person singular simple present swans, present participle swanning, simple past and past participle swanned)
(US, dialectal or colloquial) To declare (chiefly in first-person present constructions).
• NASW, WANs, Wans, awns, sawn, wans
Swan (plural Swans)
(soccer) someone connected with Swansea City Football Club, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
(Australian rules football) someone connected with the Sydney Swans, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
Swan
A surname.
• NASW, WANs, Wans, awns, sawn, wans
Source: Wiktionary
Swan, n. Etym: [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG. swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Definition: Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the subfamily Cygninæ. They have a large and strong beak and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
Note: The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus), which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry, due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan (Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (O. Columbianus), and the trumpeter swan (O. buccinator). The Australian black swan (Chenopis atrata) is dull black with white on the wings, and has the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a very graceful species and is often domesticated. The South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides melancorypha) is a very beautiful and graceful species, entirely white, except the head and neck, which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a double bright rose-colored knob.
2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of Avon.
3. (Astron.)
Definition: The constellation Cygnus. Swan goose (Zoöl.), a bird of India (Cygnopsis cygnoides) resembling both the swan and the goose.
– Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
23 April 2024
(noun) (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass
International Coffee Day (September 29) is an occasion to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events occurring in places across the world. A day to promote fair trade coffee and raise awareness for the coffee growers’ plight. Other countries celebrate this event on October 1.
