SWAN


Meaning of SWAN in English

/ swɒn; NAmE swɑːn/ noun , verb

■ noun

a large bird that is usually white and has a long thin neck. Swans live on or near water.

■ verb

( -nn- ) [ v + adv. / prep. ] ( BrE , informal , disapproving ) to go around enjoying yourself in a way that annoys other people or makes them jealous :

They've gone swanning off to Paris for the weekend.

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WORD ORIGIN

Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zwaan and German Schwan . The current sense of the verb originated as military slang, referring to the free movement of armoured vehicles.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.