swath

[swoth, swawth]

noun

1. the space covered by the stroke of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine.

2. the piece or strip so cut.

3. a line or ridge of grass, grain, or the like, cut and thrown together by a scythe or mowing machine.

4. a strip, belt, or long and relatively narrow extent of anything.

swath

/ sweɪð, swɔːθ /

noun

1. the width of one sweep of a scythe or of the blade of a mowing machine

2. the strip cut by either of these in one course

3. the quantity of cut grass, hay, or similar crop left in one course of such mowing

4. a long narrow strip or belt

Word History and Origins

Origin of swath¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English swæth footprint; cognate with German Shwade

Word History and Origins

Origin of swath¹

Old English swæth; related to Old Norse svath smooth patch

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cut a swath, to make a pretentious display; attract notice.

   The new doctor cut a swath in the small community.

see cut a wide swath.

Example Sentences

So we actually have a pretty decent swath of the economy covered.

Read more on Barron's

Chevron’s investor update seemed to highlight the company’s attractiveness to a broader swath of investors, which hasn’t been easy to accomplish with the energy sector underperforming the broader equity market.

Read more on MarketWatch

But a little of that is understandable in this attention economy-driven age, defined in no small measure by a desire to forget or rewrite vast swaths of America’s history.

Read more on Salon

The agency’s Weather Prediction Center says large swaths of Southern California have a “moderate flash flood” risk on Saturday, defined as at least a 40% chance of intense rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Iris Zhan, a Wellesley College junior majoring in economics and peace and justice studies, recalls being told that the economics program sets up students for a wide swath of careers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fodder 
• grass