Swede
[sweed]
- a native or inhabitant of Sweden.
- (lowercase) Chiefly British. a rutabaga.
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Origin of Swede
1580–90; < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cognate with German Schwede; compare Old English Swēon (plural), Old Norse Svēar, Svīar, Medieval Latin Suiōnes
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for swede
Contemporary Examples
The Swede called the young Dane “a genius,” and labeled his film “a masterpiece.”
The average American, he said, is much worse off than the average Swede.
This is also true the other way, by the way; the average Swede would not be happy living in America.
With those four words, the towering Swede, Dolph Lundgren, achieved film immortality.
Dolph Lundgren’s Wild Ride: From Fulbright Scholar to ‘The Expendables 2’Marlow Stern
August 17, 2012
An inexperienced 32-year-old Swede volunteered, and saved thousands.
Raoul Wallenberg’s World War II Heroism a Lesson for World Doing Nothing About SyriaKati Marton
March 15, 2012
Historical Examples
He was a young Swede, a fine, handsome youth, about twenty years of age.
Georgie's PresentMiss Brightwell
"Shut up, you big Swede, go and learn English," somebody said.
The HarborErnest Poole
It was far from what the Swede had expected; but he accepted the task, obediently.
A Breath of Prairie and other storiesWill Lillibridge
Her captain was a Swede, and knowing me for a seaman, invited me on the bridge.
Heart of DarknessJoseph Conrad
The Swede was as much distressed as Morrison; for he understood the other's feelings perfectly.
VictoryJoseph Conrad
swede
- a Eurasian plant, Brassica napus (or B. napobrassica), cultivated for its bulbous edible root, which is used as a vegetable and as cattle fodder: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
- the root of this plant
- NZ a slang word for head (def. 1)
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Also called (for senses 1, 2): Swedish turnip, (US and Canadian) rutabaga
Word Origin
C19: so called after being introduced into Scotland from Sweden in the 18th century
Swede
- a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Sweden
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for swede
Swede
n.
1610s, from Low German, from Middle Low German Swede, back-formed from a source akin to Old English Sweoðeod, literally "Swede-people," from Sweon (plural) "Swedes" (Old Norse, Old Swedish Sviar), called by the Romans Suiones, probably from Proto-Germanic *sweba "free, independent," or else from *geswion "kinsman."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper