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19 May 08 - 11:59 AM (#2344415) Subject: Swain... From: GUEST Hi there Just wondered if anyone knows what the word "swain" means, as in "many a mile from off your swain"? Cheers
-joe clone- |
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19 May 08 - 12:05 PM (#2344421) Subject: RE: Swain... From: Dave Earl Swain means in that context "Significant other",lover,boyfriend whatever. Dave |
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19 May 08 - 12:21 PM (#2344438) Subject: RE: Swain... From: Jack Blandiver Swifts and swains, leafy lanes... See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swain |
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19 May 08 - 12:27 PM (#2344442) Subject: RE: Swain... From: Amos 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 |
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19 May 08 - 01:41 PM (#2344484) Subject: RE: Swain... From: open mike 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. |
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19 May 08 - 02:53 PM (#2344521) Subject: RE: Swain... From: Saro Or of course it might just mean "pig" (swine) if the singer has rather a refained accent... Saro |
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19 May 08 - 06:59 PM (#2344726) Subject: RE: Swain... From: CupOfTea 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 |
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20 May 08 - 03:43 AM (#2344915) Subject: RE: Swain... From: Splott Man 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? |