Where does “swath” come from?
Swath comes from Middle English swath, from Old English swæþ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European swem(bʰ)-, a root meaning to sweep or move swiftly.
swath (English): The track cut out by a scythe in mowing; A broad...
Definitions
- The track cut out by a scythe in mowing; A broad...
Ancestry of “swath”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | swath | Alternative form of swathe; Alternative form of... |
| 2 | Old English | swæþ | track, trace; footprint; bandage; swathe |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | swaþō | a wind-swept place; open field; borderland;... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | swem(bʰ)- | to bend, turn, swing; to be unsteady, move, swim |
Words derived from “swath”