Difference between revisions of "Swat - swot"
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| − | The [[homograph]]s '''swat''' and '''swot''' (both are pronounced to rhyme with 'not', 'got' and 'hot', {{IPA|swɒt}}) are often confused. ('''[[OED]]''' lists three [[noun]]s, an [[adjective]] and two [[ | + | The [[homograph]]s '''swat''' and '''swot''' (both are pronounced to rhyme with 'not', 'got' and 'hot', {{IPA|swɒt}}) are often confused. ('''[[OED]]''' lists three [[noun]]s, an [[adjective]] and two [[verb]]s spelled '''swat''', and only one [[cognate]] [[noun]] and [[verb]] '''swot'''. AWE here is only about the the commonest of these.) They should not be confused - although each is recorded in ''[[OED]]'' as variant forms for the other. Both may be [[noun]]s or [[verb]]s. Only two meanings are likely to be found in current English. AWE recommends the following distinction, as it appears that each is better supported by the different [[etymology|etymologies]]. |
*'''Swat''' is currently mostly used for 'a quick or violent blow' (or 'to deliver a quick or violent blow'), and is now mostly applied to the action of trying to (or succeeding in) crushing a fly or other insect. A fly-'''swatter''' is an instrument often used for this purpose: usually a small flat surface attached to the end of a light and whippy stick, originally sometimes only a horse's tail or similar assemblage of hairs. (A horse, like other animals, naturally '''swats''' flies with its own tail.) | *'''Swat''' is currently mostly used for 'a quick or violent blow' (or 'to deliver a quick or violent blow'), and is now mostly applied to the action of trying to (or succeeding in) crushing a fly or other insect. A fly-'''swatter''' is an instrument often used for this purpose: usually a small flat surface attached to the end of a light and whippy stick, originally sometimes only a horse's tail or similar assemblage of hairs. (A horse, like other animals, naturally '''swats''' flies with its own tail.) | ||
| − | **Swat is a district now in Pakistan. It, along with the river and valley after which it is named, is found in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and is part of the North West Frontier area. Predominantly Pashto (or 'Pushtu', 'pakhtun' or 'Pathan')-speaking, the people of Swat are often linked to or in alliance with their co-linguists in Afghanistan. The man who united the area, a notable warrior and ruler called Akhund Abdul Ghaffur (1793-1878) has been the subject of two poems in English: ''The Akond of Swat'' by Edward Lear (1812-1888) and ''The Ahkoond of Swat'' by George T. Lanigan (1846–1886). | + | **Swat is a district now in Pakistan. It, along with the river and valley after which it is named, is found in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and is part of the North West Frontier area. Predominantly Pashto (or 'Pushtu', 'pakhtun' or 'Pathan')-speaking, the people of Swat are often linked to or in alliance with their co-linguists in Afghanistan. The man who united the area, a notable warrior and ruler called Akhund Abdul Ghaffur (1793-1878) has been the subject of two poems in English: ''The Akond of Swat'' by Edward Lear (1812-1888) (on line at [[http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ll/akond.html]]) and ''A threnody'', better known by its first line ''The Ahkoond of Swat'', by George T. Lanigan (1846–1886) (on line at [[http://allpoetry.com/poem/8566187-A-Threnody-by-George-T-Lanigan]]). |
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Revision as of 14:51, 7 March 2015
The homographs swat and swot (both are pronounced to rhyme with 'not', 'got' and 'hot', IPA: /swɒt/) are often confused. (OED lists three nouns, an adjective and two verbs spelled swat, and only one cognate noun and verb swot. AWE here is only about the the commonest of these.) They should not be confused - although each is recorded in OED as variant forms for the other. Both may be nouns or verbs. Only two meanings are likely to be found in current English. AWE recommends the following distinction, as it appears that each is better supported by the different etymologies.
- Swat is currently mostly used for 'a quick or violent blow' (or 'to deliver a quick or violent blow'), and is now mostly applied to the action of trying to (or succeeding in) crushing a fly or other insect. A fly-swatter is an instrument often used for this purpose: usually a small flat surface attached to the end of a light and whippy stick, originally sometimes only a horse's tail or similar assemblage of hairs. (A horse, like other animals, naturally swats flies with its own tail.)
- Swat is a district now in Pakistan. It, along with the river and valley after which it is named, is found in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and is part of the North West Frontier area. Predominantly Pashto (or 'Pushtu', 'pakhtun' or 'Pathan')-speaking, the people of Swat are often linked to or in alliance with their co-linguists in Afghanistan. The man who united the area, a notable warrior and ruler called Akhund Abdul Ghaffur (1793-1878) has been the subject of two poems in English: The Akond of Swat by Edward Lear (1812-1888) (on line at [[1]]) and A threnody, better known by its first line The Ahkoond of Swat, by George T. Lanigan (1846–1886) (on line at [[2]]).
