swain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
    beau; fellow; young man; boyfriend.
    • if I'd known he was her boyfriend I wouldn't have asked

WordNet


Swain noun
Etymology
OE. swain, swein, Icel. sveinn a boy, servant; akin to Sw. sven, Dan. svend, AS. swan, OHG. swein.
Definitions
  1. A servant. Obs.
    Him behoves serve himself that has no swain. Chaucer.
  2. A young man dwelling in the country; a rustic; esp., a cuntry gallant or lover; -- chiefly in poetry.
    It were a happy life To be no better than a homely swain. Shak.
    Blest swains! whose nymphs in every grace excel. Pope.

Webster 1913