swift

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)
  2. noun an English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)
  3. noun a small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight

Etymology

From Middle English swift, from Old English swift (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Germanic *swiftaz (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weyp- (“to twist; wind around”). Cognate with Icelandic svipta (“to pull quickly”), Old English swīfan (“to revolve, sweep, wend, intervene”). More at swivel.

In classic literature

Synonyms

Gustavus Franklin Swift

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