swill

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun wet feed (especially for pigs) consisting of mostly kitchen waste mixed with water or skimmed or sour milk
  2. verb feed pigs
  3. verb drink large quantities of (liquid, especially alcoholic drink)

Etymology

From Middle English swilen (“to wash; swirl; wash away”), from Old English swillan, swilian (“to wash; wash down; swill; gargle”), from Proto-West Germanic *swilljan, from Proto-Germanic *swiljaną (“to gulp, swallow”), from Proto-Indo-European *swel- (“to drink, gulp, swallow”). Related to swallow.

In classic literature

Synonyms

slop, slops, pigswill, pigwash

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