Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “swayn” come from?

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

swayn (Middle English): squire, attendant of a knight; servant,...

Definitions

  1. squire, attendant of a knight; servant,...

Ancestry of “swayn”, step by step

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

Words derived from “swayn”

  • coax
  • swain
  • coxswain
  • cox
  • swanimote
  • coaxer
  • coxless
  • swainmote
  • swainish
  • swainishness
  • coaxest
  • swainship
  • coaxeth
  • swaining
  • swainling
  • cox
  • cokswain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swé →