ˈswan-neck
Also swan's neck.
[Cf. G. schwanenhals, Sw. svanhals; in MHG. swanhals = narrow sickle.]
1. A neck like that of a swan; a long slender (white) neck.
Quots. 1823 and 1867 refer to the cognomen Swanneshals (see halse n.) = ‘swan's neck’ of a certain Eadgyth (Edith), a mistress of Harold, king of the English (De Inv. Sanctæ Crucis Walthamensis xxi, 12th c.).
| [1823 Lingard Hist. Eng. (1855) I. vi. 190 note 3 They sent for Harold's mistress, Editha, surnamed ‘The Fair’, and the ‘Swan's Neck.’] 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. iii. i. i, The fair swan-bevies of Citoyennes that have alighted in Churches, and sit there with swan-neck. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. v. §5. 514 Eadgyth of the Swan's Neck. |
2. Name for various structural parts or contrivances having a curved cylindrical form like a swan's neck.
| 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 376 The Head..that makes the body of the Spurr..with swan-necks. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Builder 201 A Swan-neck, in dog-legged and open-newelled stair cases, is a portion of the rail, consisting of two parts, the lower being concave and the upper convex. 1923 G. Sturt Wheelwright's Shop 223 Swan-necks, curved hooks fastened to the shafts of a dung-cart, for attaching the shafts to the body. 1935 Discovery Jan. 9/1 The adjustment of these beams was generally effected by bending the swan-necks in or out so as to alter the arm lengths. 1967 Gloss. Sanitation Terms (B.S.I.) 51 Swan-neck, a short bent delivery pipe attached to the outlet of a tap. |
3. = swan-plant (a): see swan n. 4 b.
| 1866 Treas. Bot., Swan-neck, or Swanwort, Cycnoches. |
4. attrib. Of a curved form like a swan's neck.
| 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 208 The steam-pipe..takes a swan-neck bend downwards to within 12 inches of the floor. Ibid. 680 The tines are always in this machine made of the swan-neck or self-cleaning form. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl., Swan-neck Needle Forceps (Surgical), an instrument for use through curved passages difficult to reach. 1891 Kipling Light that Failed xiv. 305 A pair of swan-neck spurs. |