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

Successful autocrats convince broad swaths of the public that the nation is in a crisis so great that democracy must be sacrificed to save them.

From Salon

Developers have long had their eye on smaller swaths of coastal land in Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times

A significant swath of Americans, some experts note, tend to excuse or ignore violence on their side and not recognize it as terrorism if they sympathize with the cause.

From Los Angeles Times

State officials have warned the fund could be wiped out by damages from the Eaton fire, which killed 19 people and destroyed a large swath of Altadena on Jan. 7.

From Los Angeles Times

The majority of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents have already suffered multiple displacements since the war began, as Israel’s military campaign has attacked designated “safe zones” and left wide swaths of the Strip obliterated.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fodder 
• grass