An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

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

Etymology (EN): 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.”

Etymology (PE): Qu “swan,” maybe an onomatopoetic word from the sound of swan’s call; cf. Russ. ky-ky “cry of a swan.”

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

Etymology (EN): 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.”

Etymology (PE): 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).

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

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

See also: 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.

See also: → swan; → nebula.

Same as → Omega Nebula.

See also: → swan; → nebula.

A great number of things especially in motion. → meteorite swarm.

Etymology (EN): ME; OE swearm; cf. O.S., M.L.G. swarm, Swed. svärm, M.Du. swerm, O.H.G. swarm, Ger. Schwarm “swarm;” O.N. svarmr “tumult.”

Etymology (PE): Qang in Lârestâni “swarm of bees, flies, or the like,” Lori qem (qem zaye) “swarm of bees, ants, and the like.”

A great number of things especially in motion. → meteorite swarm.

Etymology (EN): ME; OE swearm; cf. O.S., M.L.G. swarm, Swed. svärm, M.Du. swerm, O.H.G. swarm, Ger. Schwarm “swarm;” O.N. svarmr “tumult.”

Etymology (PE): Qang in Lârestâni “swarm of bees, flies, or the like,” Lori qem (qem zaye) “swarm of bees, ants, and the like.”

The → radius of a → supernova remnant (SNR) when, at the end of the → free expansion phase, the mass of the swept-up
→ shell equals that of the ejected gas from the → supernova explosion. It is given by

R_SW = (3M_e / 4πρ₀)^(1/3), where M_e is the ejected mass and ρ₀ is the initial density of the → interstellar medium.

Etymology (EN): Sweep, from M.E. swepen, from O.E. swapan “to sweep;” cognate with Ger. schweifen; → up; → radius.

Etymology (PE): Šo’â’, → radius; rubeš, noun from ruftan, rubidan “to sweep,” → scan.

The → radius of a → supernova remnant (SNR) when, at the end of the → free expansion phase, the mass of the swept-up
→ shell equals that of the ejected gas from the → supernova explosion. It is given by

R_SW = (3M_e / 4πρ₀)^(1/3), where M_e is the ejected mass and ρ₀ is the initial density of the → interstellar medium.

Etymology (EN): Sweep, from M.E. swepen, from O.E. swapan “to sweep;” cognate with Ger. schweifen; → up; → radius.

Etymology (PE): Šo’â’, → radius; rubeš, noun from ruftan, rubidan “to sweep,” → scan.

1a) A shift from one to another.

1b) A device used to break or open an electric circuit or to divert current from one conductor to another.

2. To shift or exchange; To connect, disconnect, or redirect.

Etymology (EN): Switch “slender riding whip, flexible stick,”
probably from a Flemish or Low German word akin to Hanoverian swutsche, a variant of Low Ger. zwukse “long thin stick, switch.”

Etymology (PE): Degarbân, from degar “other, another”
(Mid.Pers. dit, ditikar “the other, the second;” O.Pers. duvitiya- “second,” Av. daibitya-, bitya- “second;” Skt. dvitiya- “second,” PIE *duitiio- “second”) + -bân a suffix denoting “keeper, guard,” sometimes forming agent nouns or indicating relation, → host.

1a) A shift from one to another.

1b) A device used to break or open an electric circuit or to divert current from one conductor to another.

2. To shift or exchange; To connect, disconnect, or redirect.

Etymology (EN): Switch “slender riding whip, flexible stick,”
probably from a Flemish or Low German word akin to Hanoverian swutsche, a variant of Low Ger. zwukse “long thin stick, switch.”

Etymology (PE): Degarbân, from degar “other, another”
(Mid.Pers. dit, ditikar “the other, the second;” O.Pers. duvitiya- “second,” Av. daibitya-, bitya- “second;” Skt. dvitiya- “second,” PIE *duitiio- “second”) + -bân a suffix denoting “keeper, guard,” sometimes forming agent nouns or indicating relation, → host.

The act of changing one thing or position for another.

Etymology (EN): Verbal noun of → switch (v.).

The act of changing one thing or position for another.

Etymology (EN): Verbal noun of → switch (v.).

1. A weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle (Dictionary.com).
   

   2. → Orion’s Sword.

Etymology (EN): M.E.; O.E. sweord; cognate with Du. zwaard, Ger. Schwert, Sw. svärd.

Etymology (PE): Šamšir, Mid.Pers. šamšêr / šamšyl, Parthian safsêr; cf. Gk. sampsera denoting a “foreign sword.” The E. scimitar derives ultimately from šamšir through M.Fr. cimeterre or directly from It. scimitarra, possibly from an unknown Ottoman Turkish word, borrowed from Pers.

1. A weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle (Dictionary.com).
   

   2. → Orion’s Sword.

Etymology (EN): M.E.; O.E. sweord; cognate with Du. zwaard, Ger. Schwert, Sw. svärd.

Etymology (PE): Šamšir, Mid.Pers. šamšêr / šamšyl, Parthian safsêr; cf. Gk. sampsera denoting a “foreign sword.” The E. scimitar derives ultimately from šamšir through M.Fr. cimeterre or directly from It. scimitarra, possibly from an unknown Ottoman Turkish word, borrowed from Pers.