ˈswan-white, a. poet.
[Cf. MLG. swanewit, G. schwanenweiss, ON. svanhv{iacu}tr (as a proper name).]
As white as a swan; snow-white.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xxi. 215 Yf alle þe worlde were whit oþer swan-whit alle þynges. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 243 Swan-quhit of hewis. a 1618 Sylvester Mem. Mortalitie ii. xlix, To note An old Sir Tame-ass..swan-white to dote On Venus' Dovelings. 1794 Burns O Mally's Meek iii, Her yellow hair..Comes trinkling down her swan-white neck. 1823 J. Baillie Poems, Ship's Return i, Thy swan-white sails exulting spread. a 1900 T. W. Rolleston The Dead at Clonmacnois v, Many a blue eye of Clan Colman the turf covers, Many a swan-white breast. |