Where does “swain” come from?

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

Ancestry of “swain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishsweġen—
2Old Norsesveinnboy, lad; servant, lackey
3Proto-Germanicswainazrelative; kinsman; young man; herder; herdsman,...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswéself

Words derived from “swain”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European swé →Every word from Proto-Germanic swainaz →Every word from Old Norse sveinn →