swidden

[ swid-n ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a plot of land cleared for farming by burning away vegetation.

swidden

/ ˈswɪdən /

noun

1. an area of land where slash-and-burn techniques have been used to prepare it for cultivation
2. ( as modifier )
  small-scale swidden agriculture

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Word History and Origins

Origin of swidden¹

1951; special use of dial. (N England) swidden area of moor from which vegetation has been burned off, noun use of swidden, swithen to singe < Old Norse svithna to be singed, derivative of svītha to singe (compare dial. swithe, Middle English swithen )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of swidden¹

C18: Northern English dialect variant of swithen to burn

swich swift

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