Etymology

From earlier svinta, which is still preserved in East Iceland. First attested in the 16th century. Cognate with Faroese svinta, Norwegian svinte (whence the Icelandic word may have come). Probably related to Norwegian svinte ‎(“to swing, wave”), which might be a loan word from an unattested Middle Low German source and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *swingatją and related to Middle High German swanzen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsvʏn̥ta/

  Rhymes: -ʏn̥ta