The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Swan Upping — is an annual ceremonial and practical activity in England in which mute swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, marked, and then released.Traditionally, the Monarch of the United Kingdom owns all unmarked mute swans on the River Thames … Wikipedia
swan-upping — [swän′up΄iŋ, swôn′up΄iŋ] n. [< SWAN1 + UP1, v.] the practice in England of marking young swans with a notch in the upper beak as a sign of ownership … English World dictionary
swan-upping — /ˈswɒn ʌpɪŋ/ (say swon uping) noun British the taking up of young swans to mark them with nicks on the beak as a sign of being owned by the Crown or some corporation. {swan + upping, from up (verb) …
swan-upping — piŋ noun ( s) 1. : the practice or process of marking young swans for the owners 2. : an annual expedition for the purpose of the swan upping on the English Thames … Useful english dictionary
swan-upping — /swon up ing/, n. Brit. 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. [1800 10; SWAN1 + upping (UP + ING1)] * * * … Universalium
swan upping — noun An annual swan census in Britain in which mute swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, marked, and released. See Also: swan upper … Wiktionary
swan-upping — noun the annual practice of catching swans on the River Thames and marking them to indicate ownership by the Crown or a corporation … English new terms dictionary
swan-hop|ping — «SWON HOP ihng, SWN », noun. = swan upping. (Cf. ↑swan upping) … Useful english dictionary
Swan-hopping — Swan hop ping, n. A corruption of {Swan upping}. [Eng.] Encyc. Brit. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
swan-hopping — Swan upping Swan up ping, n. A yearly expedition on the Thames to take up young swans and mark them, as by Companies of Dyers and Vintners; called also {swan hopping}. [Eng.] Encyc. Brit. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
