Swan
/swɒn/noun
A large waterbird with a long neck, webbed feet, and usually white plumage.
Did you know?English swan comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to sound” or “to resound,” which is why its distant relatives include words tied to noise and singing, not just birds.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swen-
“to sound, resound”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*swanaz
“swan”
Old English
English
swan
“swan; the waterbird”
Middle English
English
swan
“swan”
Modern English
English
swan
“a large waterbird with a long neck and white plumage”