Obs. Forms: 1 swan, 4 suan, 5 swan, swon. [OE. swán swineherd MLG. swên, swein herd, esp. swineherd, young man, LG. sween, swên, OHG. swein (G. dial. schwein), ON. sveinn boy, servant, whence SWAIN (Sw. sven, Da. svend boy, lad):—OTeut. *swinaz, referred by some to root swa-, swe- oneself, and taken to mean orig. ‘a person belonging to oneself, adherent, attendant.’] A swineherd.

1

a. 700.  Epinal Gloss., 961, in O. E. Texts, 92. Sabulcus … suan.

2

900–30.  O. E. Chron., an. 755 (Parker MS.). He þær wunade oþ þat hiene an swan ofstang æt Pryfetes flodan.

3

1395.  Cartular. Abb. de Whiteby (Surtees), 614. Item j suan per xxiiij dies minanti plaustra .iiij.s.

4

1421.  Coventry Leet Bk., 27. We commaund … that the Swan of this Cite drive the Swyne of this Cite to wastes and marreys a-bout this cite.

5

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., III. 1086. Thi swon may se their noumber & up saue Thoppressed pigge.

6