Date:  Tue, 8 Nov 1994 22:53:13 GMT

From:  "Warren A. Brewer" <NCUT054[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]TWNMOE10.BITNET>

Subject: Swan = swear



I swan = I swear



My mother (now in seventies) has always said, "Well, I swan." (Maryland,

Virginia). At some point, I had analyzed it as "Aswan", i.e.,

"Aswan Dam" (Cf. Hoover/Boulder thread), hence a euphemism for "damn".

She however vehemently rejected my brilliant folk-etymology.



                  ---Wab.