swagger English · revision 1252

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈswæɡ.ə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈswæɡ.ɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a frequentative of [[swag]] “to sway”^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) with the suffix ''-er'', as in ''chatter''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To behave in a blustering or insolent way; to strut (1590).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The earliest recorded uses are in Shakespeare.^(Etymonline) The sense “to boast or brag” is also from the 1590s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the transitive sense “to bully by blustering” from 1605.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The noun, an insolent strut or bluster, followed in 1725,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and an adjective meaning “smart, fashionable” in 1879.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1590 – to strut or bluster.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1597 – to talk blusteringly.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1605 – to bully.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1725 – noun, a swaggering manner.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1879 – adjective, smart, showy.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To walk or behave with an arrogant, self-important air; to [[strut]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To boast or brag.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To bully someone by blustering.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A swaggering walk or manner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Arrogant self-assurance or bravado; [[cockiness]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' Elegant or showy; [[posh]].^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[swaggerer]]

+ * [[swaggeringly]]

+ * [[swagger coat]]

+ * [[swagger stick]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[swag]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House refers to ''strut'' for a discussion of synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}