swallow
n. countablen. a small, fast-flying bird with pointed wings and a tail that splits into two points. Swallows are often seen in the summer, catching insects in the air.
n. a small passerine bird of the family Hirundinidae, known for its slender body, long pointed wings, and deeply forked tail. These birds are noted for their aerial agility and migratory habits.
A swallow builds its nest under the roof.
We watched a flock of swallows dipping and diving over the lake at sunset.
The annual return of the swallows, with their swift, acrobatic flight, is heralded by many as the definitive sign that spring has truly arrived.
From Middle English swolwen, from Old English swelgan, from Proto-West Germanic swelgan, from Proto-Germanic swelganą (“to swallow, revel, devour”), from Proto-Indo-European *swelk- (“to gulp”). Cognate with Dutch zwelgen (“to revel, carouse, guzzle”), German schwelgen (“to delight, indulge”), Swedish svälja (“to swallow, gulp”), Icelandic svelgja (“to swallow”), Old English swillan, swilian (“to swill, wash out, gargle”). See also swill. The noun is from Middle English swolow, swolwe, from Old English swelh, swelg (“gulf, chasm”) and ġeswelge (“gulf, chasm, abyss, whirlpool”), both from Proto-West Germanic swelg, swalgi, from Proto-Germanic swelgaz, swalgiz. Cognate with Old English swiliġe (“pit”), Scots swelch, swellie, swallie (“an abyss in the sea, whirpool”), Middle Low German swelch (“whirlpool, eddy”), Dutch zwelg (“gorge, chasm, gullet, throat”), Old Norse svelgr (“whirlpool, current, stream”).
From Middle English swalwe, swalewe, swalowe, from Old English swealwe, from Proto-West Germanic swalwā, from Proto-Germanic swalwǭ. Cognate with Norwegian and Danish svale, Dutch zwaluw, German Schwalbe, Swedish svala.