swan n : stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult v
1. to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent" [syn: affirm, verify, assert, avow, aver, swear]
2. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; "The gypsies roamed the woods"; "roving vagabonds"; "the wandering Jew"; "The cattle roam across the prairie"; "the laborers drift from one town to the next"; "They rolled from town to town" [syn: roll, wander, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, drift, vagabond]
3. sweep majestically; "Airplanes were swanning over the mountains"

Swan \Swan\, n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG. swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the subfamily Cygnin[ae]. They have a large and strong beak and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a melodious song, especially at the time of its death. Note: The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus), which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry, due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this

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6-7 living, see text.

Cygnanser Kretzoi, 1957

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.

The word swan is derived from Old English swan, akin to the German Schwan and Dutch zwaan and Swedish svan, in turn derived from Indo-European root *swen (to sound, to sing), whence Latin derives sonus (sound). Young swans are known as cygnets, from the Latin word cygnus ("swan") and the Old French suffix -et ("little"), or as swanlings. An adult male is a cob, from Middle English cobbe (leader of a group); an adult female is a pen.

• Australian Budget Prices Shrinking Euro-Area Economy, Swan Says - Businessweek
  Australia’s federal budget, targeting a return to surplus next fiscal year, is taking a conservative view of Europe’s economic outlook, forecasting a 0.75 percent contraction this year, Treasurer Wayne Swan said. “Determined, consistent ... Read more on this news related to 'Swan'
• Wayne Swan seizes on Tony Abbott's workplace push - The Australian
  WAYNE Swan says Tony Abbott has revealed his intentions to restore Work Choices by telling Coalition colleagues that he would return the pendulum to the middle on industrial relations. Mr Swan said Mr Abbott, who declared he would crack down on union ... Read more on this news related to 'Swan'
• Man accused of breaking Manlius swan eggs pulled over by troopers for doing 109 mph - Syracuse Post-Standard
  LaFayette, NY -- The man accused of breaking eggs of a nesting Manlius swan was stopped for doing almost twice the 55-mph speed limit Monday on a LaFayette highway, state police said today. Ross B. Leone, 23, of 3333 Ransom Road, Jamesville, was ... Read more on this news related to 'Swan'