Word Study
swath
CIDE DICTIONARY
swath, n. [AS. swa a track, trace; akin to D. zwaad, zwad, zwade, a swath of grass, G. schwad, schwaden; perhaps, originally, a shred. Cf. Swathe, v. t. ].
- A line of grass or grain cut and thrown together by the scythe in mowing or cradling. [1913 Webster]
- The whole sweep of a scythe, or the whole breadth from which grass or grain is cut by a scythe or a machine, in mowing or cradling; as, to cut a wide swath. [1913 Webster]
- A band or fillet; a swathe. Shak. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
swath, n. (also swathe) (pl. swaths or swathes)
1 a ridge of grass or corn etc. lying after being cut.
2 a space left clear after the passage of a mower etc.
3 a broad strip.
1 a ridge of grass or corn etc. lying after being cut.
2 a space left clear after the passage of a mower etc.
3 a broad strip.
Idiom
cut a wide swath be effective in destruction.
Etymology
OE sw{aelig}th, swathu
THESAURUS
swath
Indian file, array, articulation, bank, belt, buzz, catena, catenation, chain, chain reaction, chaining, concatenation, connection, consecution, continuum, course, cycle, descent, drone, endless belt, endless round, file, filiation, gamut, gradation, hum, line, lineage, monotone, nexus, path, pendulum, periodicity, plenum, powder train, progression, queue, range, rank, recurrence, reticulation, rotation, round, routine, row, run, scale, sequence, series, single file, spectrum, string, strip, succession, swathe, thread, tier, train, windrowFor further exploring for "swath" in Webster Dictionary Online
