sweeny

[ swee-nee ]

/ ˈswi ni /

noun Veterinary Pathology.

atrophy of the shoulder muscles in horses.

Nearby words

swedish nightingale, swedish turnip, swedish vallhund, sweelinck, sweelinck, jan pieterszoon, sweeny, sweep, sweep account, sweep check, sweep hand, sweep off someone's feet

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for sweeny

Glover was at the helm just then, while Sweeny was at the bow.
Overland|John William De Forest
Someone had passed a field glass up the loft ladder, and Sweeny was shrieking new delight and encouragement.
A Soldier's Trial|Charles King
"Godamighty made ye already busted, I'm a thinkin'," retorted Sweeny.
Overland|John William De Forest
Mrs. Sweeny wrapped a shawl round her shoulders, opened the bottom of the window and translated her husband's message.
Priscilla's Spies|George A. Birmingham

When he reached the bedroom he found Sweeny sitting on a chair with a deep frown on his face.
Priscilla's Spies|George A. Birmingham

British Dictionary definitions for sweeny

sweeny

/ (ˈswiːnɪ) /

noun

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