Word Meaning: Swain...

Subject: RE: Swain...
From: Splott Man
Date: 20 May 08 - 03:43 AM

According to Rambling Sid Rumpo a swain is a cross between a pig and a snake. As ugly as sin, but you do get lovely streaky bacon.









Now, why is that still in my memory, but not the songs I learnt last year?

Subject: RE: Swain...
From: CupOfTea
Date: 19 May 08 - 06:59 PM

Or he COULD be a really great concertina/autoharp/bodhran/etc. player with a deep bass voice named Dick...

but a swain is usually yer best guy suitor, basicly.

I think I'll take British folk songs for $200, Alex...

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Swain...
From: Saro
Date: 19 May 08 - 02:53 PM

Or of course it might just mean "pig" (swine) if the singer has rather a refained accent...
Saro

Subject: RE: Swain...
From: open mike
Date: 19 May 08 - 01:41 PM

Wikipedia mentions that swain = sven.
"In older Swedish "sven" is a term for a male virgin."
Then how could my relatives be Svenssons? Guess he was
not a virgin after all if Sven fathered children.

Subject: RE: Swain...
From: Amos
Date: 19 May 08 - 12:27 PM

A swain is a lad, youth, or man. By extension, a yuoung man in charge of boats on a ship is a boat's swain, which became "bos'n" in modern sailor talk. You occasionally also see references to herd swains, but for some reason not as often.

1. A servant. [Obs.]

         Him behoves serve himself that has no swain.
                                              --Chaucer.

2. A young man dwelling in the country; a rustic; esp., a
   cuntry gallant or lover; -- chiefly in poetry.

         It were a happy life To be no better than a homely
         swain.                               --Shak.

         Blest swains! whose nymphs in every grace excel.
                                              --Pope.


A

Subject: RE: Swain...
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 19 May 08 - 12:21 PM

Swifts and swains, leafy lanes...

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swain

Subject: RE: Swain...
From: Dave Earl
Date: 19 May 08 - 12:05 PM

Swain means in that context "Significant other",lover,boyfriend whatever.

Dave

Subject: Swain...
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 08 - 11:59 AM

Hi there

Just wondered if anyone knows what the word "swain" means, as in "many a mile from off your swain"?

Cheers

---

Just a reminder: we no longer allow anonymous posting at Mudcat. If you wish to participate in discussions here, please use a consistent name every time you post. Thanks.
-joe clone-