swag

[ swag ]

/ swæg /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR swag ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a suspended wreath, garland, drapery, or the like, fastened up at or near each end and hanging down in the middle; festoon.

a wreath, spray, or cluster of foliage, flowers, or fruit.

a festoon, especially one very heavy toward the center.

a swale.

a swaying or lurching movement.

verb (used without object), swagged, swag·ging.

to move heavily or unsteadily from side to side or up and down; sway.

to hang loosely and heavily; sink down.

verb (used with object), swagged, swag·ging.

to cause to sway, sink, or sag.

to hang or adorn with swags.

Nearby words

swaddle, swaddling clothes, swaddy, swadeshi, swados, swag, swage, swage block, swager, swagger, swagger coat

Origin of swag

1520–30; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian svaga, svagga to sway, rock

Definition for swag (2 of 2)

swag

[ swag ]

/ swæg /

noun

Slang.

plunder; booty.
money; valuables.
free merchandise distributed as part of the promotion of a product, company, etc.
self-confidence and personal style as shown by one's appearance and demeanor: the top ten athletes with the most swag.
schwag(def 1).

Australian. a traveler's bundle containing personal belongings, cooking utensils, food, or the like.

adjective

Slang. cool; cute; looking great: She looks so swag in her new jacket.Check out my swag boyfriend.

verb (used without object), swagged, swag·ging.

Australian. to travel about carrying one's bundle of personal belongings.

Also sweg [sweg] /swɛg/ (for defs 1, 3).

Origin of swag

First recorded in 1790–1800; special uses of swag¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for swag

Sneaker and clothing brands routinely dole out buckets of dough to drape their swag over popular cultural characters.
Would You Pay $100 For a 50 Cent Bulge? Men’s Undies Get Expensive|James Joiner|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ultimately, though, “his dad rented it to us for $500… I need to send him a package of swag.”
Ben Carson’s Bizarrely Serious, Seriously Bizarre Campaign Crew|Olivia Nuzzi|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We shared pride in the mission and proudly wore our finest Facebook swag—hats, T-shirts, hoodies.
Randi Zuckerberg: How I Learned to Balance Business and Creativity|Randi Zuckerberg|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In recent years, the Oscar nominees have had an evolving relationship with the swag bag.
Oscar’s Bizarre Swag Bag: Condoms, Circus Training, and More|Kevin Fallon|February 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Howard Fineman, looking camera-ready as usual, wandered the convention hall looking for swag.
Tropical Storm Isaac Sidelines Media Elite at the Republican Convention|Lauren Ashburn|August 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He hung sullenly on the counter for a while, then lurched to his swag, and shouldered it hopelessly and wearily.
Joe Wilson and His Mates|Henry Lawson
He had disappeared, and they saw the opening where the "swag" had been secured.
Oscar the Detective|Harlan Page Halsey
Ordinarily the risk and the "swag" are distributed on more democratic principles.
The Battle with the Slum|Jacob A. Riis.
He climbed to his bunk, and carefully reviewed the ingredients of his swag.
While the Billy Boils|Henry Lawson
Finally she packed the New Testament, "Parsifal" and the cookery book inside her swag.
Captivity|M. Leonora Eyles

British Dictionary definitions for swag

swag

/ (swæɡ) /

noun

slang property obtained by theft or other illicit means

slang goods; valuables

an ornamental festoon of fruit, flowers, or drapery or a representation of this

a swaying movement; lurch

Midland English dialect a depression filled with water, resulting from mining subsidence

Australian and NZ informal (formerly) a swagman's pack containing personal belongings

go on the swag Australian and NZ informal to become a tramp

swags of Australian and NZ informal lots of

verb swags, swagging or swagged

mainly British to lurch or sag or cause to lurch or sag

(tr) to adorn or arrange with swags

(intr) Australian informal to tramp about carrying a pack of personal belongings

Word Origin for swag

C17: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian svagga to sway

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for swag (1 of 2)

swag

"to move heavily or unsteadily," 1520s, probably from Old Norse sveggja "to swing, sway," cognate with Old English swingan "to swing" (see swing). Related: Swagged; swagging.

Word Origin and History for swag (1 of 2)

swag

"ornamental festoon," 1794, from swag (v.). Colloquial sense of "promotional material" (from recording companies, etc.) was in use by 2001; swag was English criminal's slang for "quantity of stolen property, loot" from c.1839. Earlier senses of "bulky bag" (c.1300) and "big, blustering fellow" (1580s) may represent separate borrowings from the Scandinavian source. Swag lamp attested from 1966.

swag

noun

verb (used without object), swagged, swag·ging.

verb (used with object), swagged, swag·ging.

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Nearby words

Origin of swag

Definition for swag (2 of 2)

swag

noun

adjective

verb (used without object), swagged, swag·ging.

Origin of swag

Examples from the Web for swag

British Dictionary definitions for swag

swag

noun

verb swags, swagging or swagged

Word Origin for swag

Word Origin and History for swag (1 of 2)

swag

Word Origin and History for swag (1 of 2)

swag