n. (pl. same) 1 formal or US a pig. 2 colloq. (pl. swine or swines) a a term of contempt or disgust for a person. b a very unpleasant or difficult thing. swine fever an intestinal virus disease of pigs. swinish adj. (esp. in sense 2). swinishly adv. swinishness n.
[ OE swin f. Gmc ]