Swine (?), n.sing. & pl. [OE. swin, AS. swin; akin to OFries. & OS. swin, D. zwijn, G. schwein, OHG. swin, Icel. svin, Sw. svin, Dan. sviin, Goth. swein; originally a diminutive corresponding to E. sow. See Sow, n.] Zool. Any animal of the hog kind, especially one of the domestical species. Swine secrete a large amount of subcutaneous fat, which, when extracted, is known as lard. The male is specifically called boar, the female, sow, and the young, pig. See Hog. "A great herd of swine."
Mark v. 11.
Swine grass Bot., knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare); -- so called because eaten by swine. -- Swine oat Bot., a kind of oat sometimes grown for swine. -- Swine's cress Bot., a species of cress of the genus Senebiera (S. Coronopus). -- Swine's head, a dolt; a blockhead. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Swine thistle Bot., the sow thistle.
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