Where does “swain” come from?
Swain comes from Middle English swayn, from Old English sweġen, from Old Norse sveinn, from Proto-Germanic swainaz, from Proto-Indo-European s(w)e-.
swain (English): A young man or boy in service; a servant; A...
Definitions
- A young man or boy in service; a servant; A...
Ancestry of “swain”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | swayn | squire, attendant of a knight; servant,... |
| 2 | Old English | sweġen | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | sveinn | boy, lad; servant, lackey |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | swainaz | relative; kinsman; young man; herder; herdsman,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swé | self |
Words derived from “swain”