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Ask for help > Unknown word
Unknown word
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vardaki
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Unknown word
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Hi teachers,
Can somebody tell me the meaning of the word "swine" ?
And also the difference between "pig" and "sow".
Thank you
Hugs from sunny Cyprus
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23 Mar 2010
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mjpa
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Swine is an old or technical term for "pig".
And sow I think it is the male form. |
23 Mar 2010
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pcroby
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A sow is an adult female pig, while a pig refers to all the farm animals. Swine is another way of saying pig. I believe pig and swine may differ over how the words came into English. I know pig is the Saxon word for the farm animal while pork is the Angle word for pigs. In England the Saxons were taken over by the French angles. The Saxons were the lower class who worked the farms, while the Angles were the upper class who were served it in the restaurants. Swine also apparently comes from the Germanic tradition, but was primarily used to apply to the swineherd, the pig farmer. That is why swine carries a bit of a negative connotation, because it was used disparagingly to put down people of the lower class.
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23 Mar 2010
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dennismychina
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Swine is the collective name for the species, which includes wild boar, hogs and possible the warthog.
And sow is a female pig.
In �slang, a swine is a derogatory term which describes a despicable person.
Enjoy. |
23 Mar 2010
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Olindalima ( F )
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Hi
I agree with dennismychina but would like to say one more thing. I think "pork" is the word we use for a pig, when we have the poor one to be cooked. You don �t eat a steak of pig, but a steak of pork.
My opinion, �m not a native.
hugs
linda
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23 Mar 2010
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Zora
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Linda is correct.
A pig, who is part of the swine species, is often raised for pork.
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23 Mar 2010
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stexstme
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It comes from ...Norman! ( I �m a Norman :o)))
During William the Conqueror �s reign, the peasants were English, & used pig or Ox... The noblemen were Norman ( French ) and used Pork ( French porc ) & beef ( French boeuf )...
That �s why English have two words for these animals : The ones that were in the fields ( English farmers ) ( English = pig , ox...) & the ones that were eaten by noblemen ( Normans )( French = pork & beef ...)
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23 Mar 2010
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Zora
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Very interesting Sylvie! Thank you from this English Colonial peasant! 
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23 Mar 2010
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stexstme
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Many English words come from these times , when Norman kings reigned : pork, beef, money ( French monnaie.... ) I love history of words....
& I �m  proud WE were kings some day!!! Have you been to London ??? The Tower is ..............Norman!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hugs, dear Linda!! Ya know, from my place, when the weather �s fine ( ie = Never!!!!! ) I can see the UK!!!
 Ps : Our rugby team has just beaten them, allright!  Who rules ???
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23 Mar 2010
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