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definitions

sweeny

[swee-nee]
noun Veterinary Pathology.
  1. atrophy of the shoulder muscles in horses.
Also swinney.

Origin of sweeny

1820–30, Americanism; compare dialectal German Schweine, Pennsylvania German Schwinne atrophy, Old English swindan to pine away, disappear
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sweeny

Historical Examples of sweeny

  • Sweeny was an object of suspicion and dislike to the sergeant.

    Priscilla's Spies

    George A. Birmingham

  • Sweeny, so his instinct told him, must be engaged in some kind of wrongdoing.

    Priscilla's Spies

    George A. Birmingham

  • "They'd never venture as far as Inishbawn in her," said Sweeny.

    Priscilla's Spies

    George A. Birmingham

  • "Tell me this now," said Sweeny, after a moment's consideration.

    Priscilla's Spies

    George A. Birmingham

  • Then he turned and followed the sergeant into Sweeny's house.

    Priscilla's Spies

    George A. Birmingham

British Dictionary definitions for sweeny

sweeny

noun
  1. vet science a wasting of the shoulder muscles of a horse, esp as the result of a nerve injury

Word Origin for sweeny

C19: probably from German dialect Schweine emaciation, atrophy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012