Middle English Dictionary Entry
swōn n.
Entry Info
| Forms | swōn n. Also swone, swoun, swan(e & (in place names) swang-, swani(n)-, swam-, swene-. |
| Etymology | OE swān; place-name form swene- may belong to ME swein n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A swineherd;~ herde; (b) ~ imot, swon(es mot, an assembly of the king's swineherds and other forest officials; (c) a laborer; a peasant; (d) a male servant; (e) in surnames; (f) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.171].
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.Blase (Corp-C 145)52 : Ne drede þe noȝt of þe wolf þei he beo a luþer swon [Jul: suon; rime: anon]; Abid maister..& bring us þe sowe.
- c1400 WParadise (Hrl 1671)194.253/14 : The swonherde casteth the mete aforen his swyn and maketh hem fat.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)63a/b : Subulcus: a swon.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.1086 : Thi swon [L pastor] may se their noumber & up saue Thoppressed pigge.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.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.
b
- 1189 *Carta Abbatis de Burgo 15 Sept 1189 (Cartæ Antiquæ Roll EE 21, P.R.O.) [OD col.] : Liberi et quieti ab omni..consuetudine foreste et a swanimot.
- (1312) RParl.1.283a : Qe les Forestiers..presentent meismes les trespas as precheins Swanimotz devaunt Forestiers, Verdiers, Regardours, Agistours, & autres Ministres de meismes les Forestes.
- (1371) Close R.Edw.III351 : [A third of the profit and perquisites of the view of frankpledge of the manor of Groby and of the] swanymot, [the] tak [of pigs called] thiltestak, [and a third part of those hens which shall be levied within the lordship of Groby].
- (1377) RParl.3.18a : Que les Swanesmotes deussent estre tenuz certeins temps de an..que null Frank' homme serroit destreint ne sommons de venir as ditz Swanesmotes, forspris Foresters, Viriders, Rewardours, & Agistours..le Roi defende que desormes nully soit distreint par somons de venir as ditz Swanmotz, [etc.].
c
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)132/26 : Ælfred..on sumes swanes huse his hleow gernde.
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)132/27 : Hit gelamp..þæt þæs swanes wif hætte hire ofen, & se king þær-big sæt hleowwinde hine beo þan fyre.
- (1394-5) Cart.Whitby in Sur.Soc.72614 : Item, i suan per xxiiii dies minanti plaustra, iiii s.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11598 : Ioseph..went o tun, Wit maria mild and þair meine, A maiden and þair suanis [Göt: swaines; Trin-C: knaues] thre, þat seruid þam in þair seruis.
e
- (1201) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.14111 : Walterus Silkeswone.
- (1204) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames340 : Ralph de Suaneton.
- (1215) Feet Fines Sus.in Sus.RS 235 : Ricm. le Swon.
- (1246) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms66 : Henr. Swan.
- (1282) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms66 : Ric. Suon.
- (1296-7) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.6697 : Henrico le Swoun.
- (1303) Acc.Chester in LCRS 5931 : Adam le Swon.
- (1327) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms66 : Nic. le Swon.
- (1350-51) Acc.Chester in LCRS 59190 : William le Swon.
- (1366) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms66 : Joh. le Swoon.
- (1373) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames340 : John Swanton.
f
- (1121) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)318 : Swanberga.
- (1172) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)317 : Suanisberga.
- (1203) in Wallenberg PNKent51 : Swanleg.
- (1215) in Wallenberg PNKent453 : Swaneton.
- (1226) in Wallenberg PNKent453 : Swanestun.
- (1253-4) in Wallenberg PNKent453 : Suantone.
- (1258) in Wallenberg PNKent246 : Swaniton'.
- (1271) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)238 : Swenecote.
- (1280) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)238 : Swanecote.
- (1313) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)346 : Swanecote.
- (1327) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)318 : Swambergh.
- (1327) in Wallenberg PNKent248 : Swangle.
- (1334) in Wallenberg PNKent524 : Swanynton.
- (1346) in Wallenberg PNKent453 : Swanton.
- (1396) in Wallenberg PNKent51 : Swanle.
- (1467) in Wallenberg PNKent248 : Swanle.