swill
swill
UK[swɪl]US[swɪl]
v
To drink something greedily or in large quantities.
v
To rinse or flush something with a large amount of water or other liquid.
n
Waste food mixed with water or other liquids, often fed to pigs.
n
An act of drinking greedily or a large, unpleasant drink.
Etymology
The word 'swill' originates from Old English swilian or swillan, meaning "to wash, rinse out, or gargle." It is related to Middle Dutch swillen and Low German swilljen, carrying the core sense of liquid in motion, whether for cleaning or consumption. This ancient Germanic root evolved to encompass the dual modern meanings: the vigorous action of rinsing and the related, often disparaging, idea of consuming liquid in a greedy, gulping manner. The noun sense for pig food, a sloppy mixture of waste and liquid, logically extends from this concept of washing or sloshing.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form of Germanic origin. Its modern spelling and sound are the direct result of Old English phonological development.
Examples
He swilled down the beer and asked for another.
Swill the bucket out with clean water before you use it.
The farmer collected kitchen scraps to make swill for the pigs.