English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

swill

swihl

Swill (noun) means Kitchen scraps and liquid waste fed to pigs, or by extension, any low-quality food or drink. Example: “The farmer poured the swill into the pig trough.”

noun
1
Kitchen scraps and liquid waste fed to pigs, or by extension, any low-quality food or drink.
"The farmer poured the swill into the pig trough."
"He called the watery beer nothing but swill."
verb
1
To drink greedily and in large quantities.
"They spent the evening swilling cheap beer."
2
To rinse or wash something out with a flood of water.
"She swilled out the bucket before refilling it."

How to use swill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither pig food/low-quality drink, or to drink something greedily, or to rinse something with water.

When to use it

Mildly derogatory when used for food or drink meant for people.

Common pairings
swill down pig swill swill beer

Word forms

swilled past tense, swills plural, swills singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “swill” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farmer poured the _____ into the pig trough.

Etymology

From Old English swillan, "to wash or gargle," related to the word swallow.

Origin: Old English

slop slops pigwash pigswill swill down

Related words

Rhymes for swill

See all rhymes for swill →

Frequently asked questions

What does “swill” mean?

The word “swill” means kitchen scraps and liquid waste fed to pigs, or by extension, any low-quality food or drink. In plain terms, either pig food/low-quality drink, or to drink something greedily, or to rinse something with water.

How do you pronounce “swill”?

“Swill” is pronounced swihl (/swɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “swill” in a sentence?

Here is “swill” used in a sentence: “The farmer poured the swill into the pig trough.”

What part of speech is “swill”?

Depending on how it is used, “swill” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “swill” come from?

The word “swill” comes from Old English. From Old English swillan, "to wash or gargle," related to the word swallow.

How many meanings does “swill” have?

“Swill” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: kitchen scraps and liquid waste fed to pigs, or by extension, any low-quality food or drink.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial