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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- swills
- Third person singular
- swills
- Past tense
- swilled
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.
Synonyms
View more →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.
