swain n : a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman; "if I'd known he was her boyfriend I wouldn't have asked" [syn: boyfriend, fellow, beau, young man]

English

Etymology

Via Middle English swein from Old Norse sveinn, akin to Old English swān

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪn

Noun

1. A servant. Originally the servant to a Knight, looking after his armaments and horse.
2. A young man dwelling in the country; a rustic; esp., a country gallant or lover; — chiefly in poetry. Hence, the road name "Swains' Lane" can be translated to "Lovers' Lane".
3. A boyfriend; a man who is the lover of a woman.

Swain is a traditional English surname derived ultimately from the Old Norse personal name Sveinn (Sven, Sweyn), meaning a youth, young man. There are a number of variations in the spelling of the surname Swain, including Swaine, Swainne and Swayne.

Swain is also a surname in Orissa India

From this word meaning boy, young male or servant, are derived:

• the noun swain, meaning a rustic lover or boyfriend, cf. the numerous examples in Shakespeare's work, including his lyric, "[w]ho is Sylvia, what is she that all our Swains commend her" (from The Two Gentlemen of Verona)
• there are also specific nautical words involving swain: boatswain (literally "young man in charge of a boat") which can be seen in Shakespeare's The Tempest, and coxswain.

Notable people named Swain

• Diana Swain, Canadian television journalist
• Dominique Swain, American actress
• Gladys Swain, French psychiatrist and writer
• Louisa Ann Swain, first woman in America to vote in a general election
• Richard Swain, New Zealand rugby league footballer

Sources

• Etymology on-line

See also

• Candle swain (known as the kertilsveinar at the Norwegian hird, i.e. royal court)
• Swain County, North Carolina
• Swain School of Design

Casanova, Don Juan, Lothario, Romeo, amoroso, beau, bodyguard, boyfriend, caballero, cavalier, cavaliere servente, chaperon, companion, conductor, convoy, duenna, escort, esquire, fellow, fellow traveler, flame, gallant, gentleman friend, gigolo, guard, inamorato, lady-killer, love-maker, man, necker, old man, petter, philanderer, safe-conduct, seducer, sheik, shepherd, spark, sparker, squire, sugar daddy, usher, wooer, young man