O.E.
swan, from P.Gmc.
*swanaz (cf. O.S.
swan, O.N.
svanr, M.Du.
swane, Du.
zwaan, O.H.G.
swan, Ger.
Schwan), probably lit. "the singing bird," from PIE base
*swon-/*swen- "to sing, make sound" (see
sound (n.1)); thus related to O.E.
geswin "melody, song" and
swinsian "to make melody." In classical mythology, sacred to Apollo and to Venus. The singing of swans before death was alluded to by Chaucer (c.1374), but
swan-song (1831) is a translation of Ger.
Schwanengesang. A
black swan was proverbial for "something extremely rare or non-existent" (1398), after Juvenal [
"Sat." vi. 164].
Swan dive is recorded from 1898.
[swon] 