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A servant. [Obs.] Him behoves serve himself that has no swain. Chaucer.

Pertaining to, or resembling, a swain; rustic; ignorant. "An ungentle and swainish beast." Milton. -- Swain"ish*ness, n. Emerson.

A little swain. [R.]

the verders of the forest as judges, by the steward of the court, thrice every year, the swains, or freeholders, within the forest composing the jury. [Written also swanimote, and sweinmote.] Blackstone.

The condition of a swain.

The tropic bird. Boatswain's mate, an assistant of the boatswain. Totten.

The steersman of a boat; a petty officer who has charge of a boat and its crew.

See Cockswain.

coarse woolen fabric made of daglocks, or the refuse of wool. "Under coverlets made of dagswain." Holinshed.

uent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects. What cares must then attend the toiling swain. Dryden.

Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. [Archaic] "A pleasant and base swain." Bacon.

Turn; purpose; inclination; ends. [Obs.] Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend. Fletcher.

See Boatswain. [Obs.] Dryden.

A whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate, to summon the sailors to duty.

A jovial feast or festival; a drunken revel; a carouse. The swains were preparing for a carousal. Sterne.

l body of men associated for a purpose; a gang; as (Naut.), the carpenter's crew; the boatswain's crew.

r leap rhytmically. Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. Wiher. Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances with your dauther Shak.

ing taken away; as, to dispossess a king of his crown. Usurp the land, and dispossess the swain. Goldsmith.

Able; strong; valiant; redoubtable; as, a doughty hero. Sir Thopas wex [grew] a doughty swain. Chaucer. Doughty families, hugging old musty quarrels to their hearts, buffet each other from generation to generation. Motley.

To clear, by forcing away what is contained. To drive the country, force the swains away. Dryden.