swine
UK: swaɪn | US: swaɪn
n. 1. A pig, especially an adult one.
n. 2. (Derogatory) A contemptible or unpleasant person.
swine = swin<pig> + e (Old English plural marker)
- swin<pig>: From Old English swīn, meaning "pig, hog," derived from Proto-Germanic swīną.
- e: A historical plural suffix in Old English (modern plural: swine or swines in archaic/regional use).
Etymology Origin:
The word swine traces back to Old English swīn, rooted in Proto-Germanic swīną, reflecting the animal’s importance in early agrarian societies. Unlike many Old English words, swine retained its form with minimal phonetic change. The term’s derogatory sense for humans emerged later, likely due to cultural associations of pigs with gluttony or dirtiness.
The farmer raised swine for their meat and leather.
In medieval Europe, swine were often kept in forests for foraging.
(Derogatory) "Don’t act like a swine—clean up after yourself!"
Wild swine can be destructive to crops.
The term "swine flu" originated from a virus common in pigs.