Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “swainling” come from?

swainling (English) comes from English swain, from Middle English swayn, from Old English sweġen, from Old Norse sveinn, from Proto-Germanic swainaz, from Proto-Indo-European swé — self.

swainling (English): A little or young swain

Definitions

  1. A little or young swain

Ancestry of “swainling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishswainA young man or boy in service; a servant; A...
2Middle Englishswaynsquire, attendant of a knight; servant,...
3Old Englishsweġen—
4Old Norsesveinnboy, lad; servant, lackey
5Proto-Germanicswainazrelative; kinsman; young man; herder; herdsman,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanswéself
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swé →