King James Bible Dictionary

Mentioned in the list of unclean birds (Leviticus 11:18; Deuteronomy 14:16), is sometimes met with in the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee.

Forbidden as food
Leviticus 11:18; Deuteronomy 14:16

(Heb. tinshemeth), thus rendered by the Authorized Version in (Leviticus 11:18; 14:16) where it occurs in the list of unclean birds Rut either of the renderings "porphyrio" (purple water-hen) and "ibis" is more probable. Neither of these birds occurs elsewhere in the catalogue; both would be familiar to residents in Egypt, and the original seems to point to some water-fowl. The purple water-hen is allied to our corn-crake and water-hen, and is the largest and most beautiful of the family Rallid' . It frequents marshes and the sedge by the banks of rivers in all the countries bordering on the Mediterranean and is abundant in lower Egypt.

SWAN, noun A large aquatic fowl of the genus Anas, of two varieties, the wild and the tame. The plumage is of a pure white color, and its long arching neck gives it a noble appearance.

SWANG, noun A piece of low land or green sward, liable to be covered with water. [Local in England.]

SWAN'IMOTE, noun [swain and mote, meeting.] In England, a court held before the verderors of the forest as judges, by the steward of the court, thrice every year; the swains or freeholders within the forest composing the jury. Its principal jurisdiction is to inquire into the oppressions and grievances committed by the officers of the forest. It receives and tries also presentments certified from the court of attachments against offenses in vert and venison. This court is incident to a forest, as a court of piepoudre is to a fair.

SWANSDOWN, noun A fine soft thick woolen cloth.

SWAN'SKIN, noun [swan and skin.] A species of flannel of a soft texture, thick and warm.