An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

A large, usually white bird with a long neck that lives on rivers and lakes (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus).

M.E., from O.E. swan; cf. O.S. swan, O.N. svanr, M.Du. swane, Du. zwaan, O.H.G. swan, Ger. Schwan, probably literally "the singing bird," from PIE base *swon-/*swen- "to sing, make sound."

Qu "swan," maybe an onomatopoetic word from the sound of swan's call; cf. Russ. ky-ky "cry of a swan."

One of the three prominent bands in the spectra of comets and carbon stars caused by diatomic carbon (C₂).

Named after the Scottish physicist William Swan (1818-1894) who first studied the spectral analysis of radical carbon C₂ in 1856; → band.

Same as → Omega Nebula.

→ swan; → nebula.