swan-upping

[ swon-uhp-ing ]

noun

, British.

1. the taking up of young swans to mark them with nicks on the beak for identification.
2. an annual expedition for this purpose on the Thames.

swan-upping

noun

1. the practice or action of marking nicks in swans' beaks as a sign of ownership
2. the annual swan-upping of royal cygnets on the River Thames

Word History and Origins

Origin of swan-upping¹

1800–10; swan ¹ + upping ( up + -ing ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of swan-upping¹

C16: from up (in the archaic sense: to catch and mark a swan)

Example Sentences

This process was called “swan upping,” corrupted generally into “swan hopping.”

From Project Gutenberg

The young cygnets were marked at the annual festival of “swan-upping,” at which the City magnates used hugely to enjoy themselves.

From Project Gutenberg

The time-honoured brutality of swan-upping is now mitigated by law, its cruelty being obvious.

From Project Gutenberg

This is called "swan-upping," and a good time it used to be.

From Project Gutenberg