Dictionary

swanling en · NOUN

Etymology

From swan + -ling, formed by analogy with duckling, gosling, etc. Compare German Schwänlein.

Meanings

1. A young or baby swan; a cygnet.
   • Suddenly I feel myself become small as a swanling, tucked into the swan's feathers. 2004, Pauline Somers, Dreams Within Dreams:
   • So close, swanling, do not hesitate. Her eyes went to the sun hanging between night and day and then to Wulfsun. I cannot leave him to such a fate. Without me, he is a dead man. 2015, Betina Lindsey, Swan Bride: The Swan Maiden Trilogy - Book One:
   • Bruno Bettelheim What this is really about is how you and your own dear swanling can rest securely in the feeling of belonging together when you experience daily life differently because others treat you differently. 2011, Gail Steinberg, Beth Hall, Inside Transracial Adoption:
   • The narrative concerns a female duck who hatches four dark ducklings, and when the fifth turns out to be a white “swanling,” the father duck more or less accuses his wife of adultery. 2011, Jack Zipes, The Enchanted Screen:
   • Slim ran over to the pond and unleashed the excited swanlings. They followed Moose and Slim to a quiet backwash of the river and glided gracefully into the water. Moose sat down on a little hillock and listened to Slim talking to the swanlings. 2007, Hubert Schuurman, People of the Swan:

Forms

Relateds

gooseling · gosling · swan · duckling

Synonyms

cygnet