Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “swilian” come from?

swilian (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic swiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European swel- — to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...

swilian (Old English): to wash; wash down; swill; gargle; to swill, wash...

Definitions

  1. to wash; wash down; swill; gargle; to swill, wash...

Ancestry of “swilian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicswiljanąto gulp, swallow
2Proto-Indo-Europeanswel-to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...

Words derived from “swilian”

  • swill
  • pigswill
  • swiller
  • swilen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swel- →