swain

Where does the word "swain" come from? It comes from Old Norse sveinn, passing through Old English before entering English (1580s).

Swain’s story begins in Old Norse: sveinn meant “boy, servant.” A boy or servant. By 1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as swān. Borrowed from Norse settlers; 'boatswain' and 'coxswain' keep the sense of servant. It reached English by 1580s as swain. Pastoral poets made the country youth a lover. Today, swain means a young lover or suitor; a country youth.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval sveinn "boy, servant", a boy or servant.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 1000s swān "herdsman, servant", borrowed from Norse settlers; 'boatswain' and 'coxswain' keep the sense of servant.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s swain "young suitor", pastoral poets made the country youth a lover.