cygnet
UK: ˈsɪɡnɪt | US: ˈsɪɡnɪt
n. a young swan
cygnet = cygn<swan> + et<diminutive suffix>
- cygn (from Latin cygnus, meaning "swan")
- et (a diminutive suffix of Old French origin, indicating smallness or youth)
Etymology Origin:
The word "cygnet" traces back to Latin cygnus (swan), which itself derives from Greek kuknos. The diminutive suffix -et was added in Old French (cignet), later anglicized to "cygnet." This reflects a common pattern of using diminutives to denote young animals (e.g., "eaglet," "owlet"). The term preserves the elegance of its Latin root while specifying youth.
The pond was serene, with a lone cygnet gliding beside its mother.
Cygnets are born with gray feathers, which turn white as they mature.
The children watched the cygnet learn to swim for the first time.
A cygnet’s downy plumage makes it appear softer than an adult swan.
The artist sketched the cygnet’s graceful movements in charcoal.