swæþ

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swæθ/

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *swaþ, from Proto-Germanic *swaþō, from Proto-Indo-European *swem(bʰ)- (“to bend, turn, swing”). Cognate with Old Norse svæði (“open field”).

Noun

swæþ n

1. track, trace
2. footprint

Declension

Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	swæþ	swaþu
accusative	swæþ	swaþu
genitive	swæþes	swaþa
dative	swæþe	swaþum

Synonyms

• spor
• swaþu

Derived terms

• dolgswæþ
• fōtswæþ
• *swaþian

Descendants

• Middle English: swath, swathe
  • English: swath (“swath”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-West Germanic *swaþ-. Compare Middle Low German swēde (“dressing for a wound, wrap, compress, bandage”), Middle High German swede (“wound dressing, bandage”), Middle High German swade (“strip, band, film”).

Alternative forms

• swaþu

Noun

swæþ ?

1. bandage; swathe

Usage notes

• The exact gender and nominative form are unknown, as the word is attested once in the dative plural form swaþum.

Derived terms

• swaþul

Related terms

• besweþian
• sweþel

Descendants

• Middle English: swath, swathe
  • English: swathe (“bandage”)