swan 1
— swanlike , adj.
/swon/ , n.
1. any of several large, stately aquatic birds of the subfamily Anserinae, having a long, slender neck and usually pure-white plumage in the adult. Cf. mute swan, trumpeter swan, whistling swan, whooper swan .
2. a person or thing of unusual beauty, excellence, purity, or the like.
3. Literary. a person who sings sweetly or a poet.
4. ( cap. ) Astron. the constellation Cygnus.
[ bef. 900; ME, OE; c. G Schwan, ON svanr ]
swan 2
/swon/ , v.i.
Midland and Southern U.S. Older Use. to swear or declare (used with I ): Well, I swan, I never expected to see you here!
[ 1775-85, Amer.; prob. continuing dial. (N England) I s'wan, shortening of I shall warrant ]