swayn

Middle English

Alternative forms

• sweine, sweyn, sueyn, swain, sweyn, swein, swaine, sweyne, swane

Etymology

From Old English sweġen, from Old Norse sveinn, from Proto-Germanic *swainaz. Doublet of swon.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swæi̯n/

Noun

swayn (plural swaynes)

1. squire, attendant of a knight
2. servant, attendant
3. young man
4. commoner

Derived terms

• botswain
• cokswain

Descendants

• English: swain
• Scots: swaine, swane

References

• “swein, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-03.