A Swig Is a Large Mouthful Taken Straight
A swig is a big drink from a bottle. The word implies informality as much as quantity.
A swig is a large mouthful of drink, usually taken straight from a bottle. English distinguishes drinking words by quantity and manner with unusual precision: a *sip* is small and careful, a *gulp* is large and hurried, a *swig* is large and casual, a *swill* is greedy and disapproved of, and a *draught* is long and satisfying. The word chosen says as much about the drinker as the drink. *Swig* appears in the 1500s with no clear ancestor.
- A large mouthful. *A swig of water.*
- To drink deeply. *Swigging from the bottle.*
- Sip — the opposite. *A sip.*
- Swill — a greedy version. *To swill.*
- Unknown origin. *The 1500s.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | swig | A swig. |
| Verb | swig | Swigging. |
| Past | swigged | Swigged. |
| Related | swill | To swill. |
| Related | gulp | A gulp. |
- He took a swig of water.Drinking.
- Swigging straight from the bottle.Manner.
- A sip is the opposite.Contrast.
Ways of drinking
- Sip — small and careful
- Swig — large and casual, usually from a bottle
- Gulp — large and hurried
- Swill — greedy, and disapproving
- Draught — a long satisfying drink
Origin unknown, recorded from the 1500s.
What is the difference between a swig and a gulp?
A gulp is hurried; a swig is casual and usually taken straight from a bottle.
Where does swig come from?
Its origin is unknown. It appears in English in the 1500s with no traceable ancestor.