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 [[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]]. | 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 | + | *'''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 assembl says age 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 [[http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ll/akond.html]]) and ''A | + | ::'''''[[etymology|Etymological]] note''''': ''[[OED]]'' gives the [[etymological root|root]]of '''swat''' as a [[Accent and dialect|dialect]] variant (in US and northern British) of '''squat''', without explaining how it comes to mean 'strike'. Douglas Harper's ''[[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=swat&searchmode=phrase|Online Etymological Dictionary]]'' suggests that it is "possibly an alteration of [[Middle English]] swap "to strike, smite". |
| + | **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]]). | ||
| + | ***In law enforcement contexts '''Swat''' (sometimes '''S.W.A.T.''') is an [[acronym]] for <nowiki>'</nowiki>'''S'''pecial '''W'''eapons '''A'''nd '''T'''actics', a name for teams of police officers equipped and trained to feal with situations more dangerous thgan normal and involving heavily armed criminals such ass terrorists, hostage takers and armed gangs. | ||
| + | *'To '''swot'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> | ||
{{wip}} | {{wip}} | ||
Revision as of 18:36, 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 assembl says age of hairs. (A horse, like other animals, naturally swats flies with its own tail.)
- Etymological note: OED gives the rootof swat as a dialect variant (in US and northern British) of squat, without explaining how it comes to mean 'strike'. Douglas Harper's [Etymological Dictionary] suggests that it is "possibly an alteration of Middle English swap "to strike, smite".
- 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]]).
- In law enforcement contexts Swat (sometimes S.W.A.T.) is an acronym for 'Special Weapons And Tactics', a name for teams of police officers equipped and trained to feal with situations more dangerous thgan normal and involving heavily armed criminals such ass terrorists, hostage takers and armed gangs.
- 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]]).
- 'To swot'
