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swan-upping

[ swon-uhp-ing ]

noun

, British.
  1. the taking up of young swans to mark them with nicks on the beak for identification.
  2. an annual expedition for this purpose on the Thames.


swan-upping

noun

  1. the practice or action of marking nicks in swans' beaks as a sign of ownership
  2. the annual swan-upping of royal cygnets on the River Thames
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of swan-upping1

1800–10; swan 1 + upping ( up + -ing 1 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of swan-upping1

C16: from up (in the archaic sense: to catch and mark a swan)
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Example Sentences

This process was called “swan upping,” corrupted generally into “swan hopping.”

The young cygnets were marked at the annual festival of “swan-upping,” at which the City magnates used hugely to enjoy themselves.

The time-honoured brutality of swan-upping is now mitigated by law, its cruelty being obvious.

This is called "swan-upping," and a good time it used to be.

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