Where does “swagman” come from?

swagman (English) comes from English MAN, from English manual, from Middle English manuel, from Anglo-Norman manuel, from Old French manual, from Latin manuālis, from Latin manus, from Proto-Italic manus — human being; man; hand.

swagman (English): A man who travels around with a swag; specifically, an itinerant person, often seeking work in exchange for food and lodging

Definitions

  1. A man who travels around with a swag; specifically, an itinerant person, often seeking work in exchange for food and lodging

Ancestry of “swagman”, step by step

swagman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English MAN

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMANInitialism of Metropolitan Area Network
2EnglishmanualA handbook; A booklet that instructs on the usage...
3Middle Englishmanuel
4Anglo-Normanmanuelmanual; done with the hands; handle; manual;...
5Old Frenchmanual
6Latinmanuālishand
7Latinmanushand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting
8Proto-Italicmanushand
9Proto-Indo-Europeanman-human being; man; hand

via English SWAG

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSWAGInitialism of...
2Middle Englishswaggen
3Old Norsesveggjato swing, sway
4Proto-Germanicswinganąto swing
5Proto-Indo-Europeanswenk-to bend, swing, swivel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European man-Every word from Proto-Italic manusEvery word from Latin manus