swine

From Middle English swyn, swin, from Old English swīn, from Proto-West Germanic *swīn, from Proto-Germanic *swīną, from an adjectival form of Proto-Indo-European *suH- (“pig”). By surface analysis, sow +‎ -en.

• IPA^(key): /swaɪn/

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• Rhymes: -aɪn

swine (plural swine or swines)

1. (plural swine) A pig (the animal).
   The Zimmerman farm introduced swine to their husbandry.
2. (derogatory) A contemptible person (plural swine or swines).
3. (slang, derogatory) A police officer; a "pig".
4. (slang, derogatory) Something difficult or awkward; a pain.

   That old car is a swine to manoeuvre.

In its literal sense, swine is often used, like cattle, as an uncountable plurale tantum: 200 head of swine.

• Appendix:English collective nouns

swine

1. (archaic) plural of sow

• Wenis, Wiens, Wines, sewin, sinew, swein, we'ins, wenis, wines, wisen

swine

1. alternative form of swyn

• IPA^(key): /ˈswiː.ne/

swīne

1. dative singular of swīn