swan maiden

noun

1. any of a class of folkloric maidens, in many Indo-European and Asian tales, capable of being transformed into swans, as by magic or sorcery.

swan maiden

noun

1. any of a group of maidens in folklore who by magic are transformed into swans

Word History and Origins

Origin of swan maiden¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

I hope I have made clear in the last chapter the connection between the various types of the Swan-maiden group of folk-tales.

From Project Gutenberg

But in every variant of the Swan-maiden group, to whatsoever type it may belong, the catastrophe is inevitable from the beginning.

From Project Gutenberg

Had Liebrecht's theory touched only the Swan-maiden group, it would have been more convenient to discuss it in the last chapter.

From Project Gutenberg

In another (Hahn, No. 15) a prince finds in the forbidden fortieth a lake in which fairies of the swan-maiden species are bathing.

From Project Gutenberg

If you take a jinni or a swan-maiden you can go from Cairo to Bokhara in less time than our best expresses could cover a mile.

From Project Gutenberg