swath
swath
UK[swɒθ]US[swɑːθ]
n
a long strip or area of something
n
the width of a scythe stroke or a mower's cut; a path or track made by mowing or cutting
Etymology
The word 'swath' originates from the Old English 'swæþ' or 'swaþu', meaning a track, trace, or band of grass cut by a scythe. It is related to Old Norse 'svað', meaning a bare spot, and is part of the Germanic family of languages. The core concept has consistently been that of a strip or track left behind, evolving from the literal mark of a cutting tool to describe any broad, continuous strip or area. This semantic journey from a physical agricultural trace to a metaphorical expanse illustrates a classic pattern of meaning generalization.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Old English origin. The form 'swath' represents a single, indivisible lexical unit in modern English.
Examples
The storm cut a swath of destruction through the coastal town.
The combine harvester left a wide swath of cut wheat in the field.
A new political movement is cutting a swath through traditional voting patterns.