sweam

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English sweem, sweme, swem (a dizziness), from Middle English swemen (to feel faint, be overcome), from Old English *swǣman (to trouble, grieve); and also from Old Norse sveimr (a bustle, stir), from Proto-Germanic *swaimaz (a moving to and fro, a sway), from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₁- (to sway, swing). Cognate with Old Norse svími (dizziness, fainting) (Danish svime (a swoon)), Dutch zwijm (a swoon, fainting fit), Old English swīma (vertigo, dizziness, a swoon). More at swim.

Noun

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sweam (plural sweams)

  1. (dialectal) A swimming of the head; a fainting fit; a swoon.
  2. (dialectal) A sudden qualm of sickness.

Anagrams

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