Swan \Swan\ (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG.
swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and
perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds
belonging to {Cygnus}, {Olor}, and allied genera of the
subfamily {Cygninae}. They have a large and strong beak
and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful
movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are
white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a
melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
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Note: The European white, or mute, swan ({Cygnus gibbus}),
which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in
an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans
of the genus {Olor} do not bend the neck in an S-shaped
curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry,
due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this
genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan
({Olor cygnus}), the American whistling swan ({Olor Columbianus}), and the trumpeter swan ({Olor buccinator}). The Australian black swan ({Chenopis atrata}) is dull black with white on the wings, and has
the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a
very graceful species and is often domesticated. The
South American black-necked swan ({Sthenelides melancorypha}) is a very beautiful and graceful
species, entirely white, except the head and neck,
which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a
double bright rose-colored knob.
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2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted
for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of
Avon.
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3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus.
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{Swan goose} (Zool.), a bird of India ({Cygnopsis cygnoides})
resembling both the swan and the goose.
{Swan shot}, a large size of shot used in fowling.
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