Gain vs Swag - What's the difference?

Gain is a related term of swag.

As nouns the difference between gain and swag

is that gain is the act of gaining or gain can be (architecture) a square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam while swag is scientific/speculative/sophisticated/stupid wild-ass or swag can be .

As a preposition gain

is (obsolete) against.

As an adjective gain

is (obsolete) straight, direct; near; short.

As an adverb gain

is (obsolete) straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

As a verb gain

is to acquire possession of what one did not have before.

gain

English

Etymology 1

From dialectal English (m), (m), short for (m), . More at (l).

Preposition

(English prepositions)

(obsolete) Against.

Derived terms

* (l)

Etymology 2

From (etyl) (m), (m), , from the adjective.

Adjective

(en adjective)

(obsolete) Straight, direct; near; short.

the gainest way

(obsolete) Suitable; convenient; ready.

(dialectal) Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.

(dialectal) Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.

Derived terms

* (l) * (l)

Adverb

(en adverb)

(obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

(dialectal) Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.

(dialectal) Tolerably; fairly.

gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)

Etymology 3

From (etyl) (m), . The Middle English word was reinforced by (etyl) . Related to (l), (l).

Noun

(en noun)

The act of gaining.

* Tennyson

the lust of gain

What one gains, as a return on investment or dividend.

No pain, no gain .

* Shakespeare

Everyone shall share in the gains .

(electronics) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.

Antonyms

* loss

Derived terms

* autogain * gainful * gainsome

Verb

(en verb)

To acquire possession of what one did not have before.

Looks like you've gained a new friend.

* Bible, Matthew xvi. 26

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

* Alexander Pope

For fame with toil we gain , but lose with ease.

To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.

The sick man gains daily.

* Bible, Ezekiel xxii. 12

Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.

(dated) To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.

to gain''' a battle; to '''gain a case at law

To increase.

* 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)

Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength.

To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.

I'm gaining (on you).

gain ground

To reach.

to gain the top of a mountain

* 1907 , Jack London, The Iron Heel :

Ernest laughed harshly and savagely when he had gained the street.

To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.

* Bible, Matthew xviii. 15

If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

* Dryden

to gratify the queen, and gain the court

To put on weight.

I've been gaining .

(of a clock or watch) To run fast.

Etymology 4

Compare (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)

(architecture) A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.

Anagrams

* (l) * (l) * (l), (l) ----

swag

English

Etymology 1

Probably from (etyl)

Verb

(swagg)

(intransitive, and, transitive) To sway; to cause to sway.

To droop; to sag.

* Palsgrave

I swag' as a fat person's belly ' swaggeth as he goeth.

To decorate (something) with loops of draped fabric.

* {{quote-news, year=2009, date=January 29, author=Cathy Horyn, title=In Paris, a Nod to Old Masters, work=New York Times citation

, passage=Dior wouldn’t be Dior without the swagged ball gown

Noun

(en noun)

A loop of draped fabric.

* 2005 , , Bloomsbury Publishing, page 438:

He looked in bewilderment at number 24, the final house with its regalia of stucco swags and bows.

A low point or depression in land; especially , a place where water collects.

* 1902', D. G. Simmons, "The Influence of Contaminated Water in the Development of Diseases", ''The American Practitioner and News'', ' 34 : 182.

Whenever the muddy water would accumulate in the swag' the water from the well in question would become muddy After the water in the ' swag had all disappeared through the sink-hole the well water would again become clear.

Derived terms

* (l)

Etymology 2

(swagger).

Noun

(-)

(slang) Style; fashionable appearance or manner.

* 2009 , Mark Anthony Archer, Exile , page 119

Now this dude got swag , and he was pushing up on me but, it wasn't like we was kicking it or anything!”

Etymology 3

From British thieves? slang.

Noun

(en noun)

(countable) The booty of a burglar or thief; a boodle.

* 1838 , :

“It?s all arranged about bringing off the swag , is it?” asked the Jew. Sikes nodded.

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)

, title=(The China Governess) , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=‘I understand that the district was considered a sort of sanctuary,’ the Chief was saying. ‘ […] They tell me there was a recognized swag market down here.’}}

* 1971 November 22, Frank E. Emerson, “They Can Get It For You BETTER Than Wholesale”, New York Magazine , page 38

He was on his way to call on other dealers to check out their swag and to see if he could trade away some of his leftover odds and ends.

(uncountable) Handouts, freebies, or giveaways, such as those handed out at conventions.

* 2011 , Mark Henry, Battle of the Network Zombies

“Make sure to take some swag on your way out!” I called.
He stooped a bit in mid-trot and snatched a small gold bag out of the basket at the door. The contents were mostly shit, a few drink tickets to the Well of Souls, VIP status at Convent, that sort of thing.

(countable, Australia, dated) The possessions of a bushman or itinerant worker, tied up in a blanket and carried over the shoulder, sometimes attached to a stick.

(countable, Australia, by extension) A small single-person tent, usually foldable in to an integral backpack.

(countable, Australia, New Zealand) A large quantity (of something).

* 2010 August 31, " Hockey: Black Sticks lose World Cup opener]", [[w:The New Zealand Herald, The New Zealand Herald] :

New Zealand wasted a swag of chances to lose their opening women?s hockey World Cup match.

Derived terms

* swaggie * swagman

Verb

(Australia) To travel on foot carrying a swag (possessions tied in a blanket).

* 1880 , James Coutts Crawford, Recollections of Travel in New Zealand and Australia , page 259,

He told me that times had been bad at Invercargill, and that he had started for fresh pastures, had worked his passage up as mate in a small craft from the south, and, arriving in Port Underwood, had swagged his calico tent over the hill, and was now living in it, pitched in the manuka scrub.

* 1976 , Pembroke Arts Club, The Anglo-Welsh Review , page 158,

That such a man was swagging in the Victoria Bush at the age of fifty-one requires explanation.

* 2006 , , Issue 23, page 3,

The plot is straightforward. A swagman is settling down by a billabong after a hard day?s swagging .

* 2011 , Penelope Debelle, Red Silk: The Life of Elliott Johnston QC , page 21,

Over the Christmas of 1939, just three months after Britain and Australia had declared war on Germany, they went swagging together for a week and slept out under the stars in the Adelaide Hills, talking, walking and reading.

Derived terms

* swag it

Etymology 4

Noun

(en noun)

; a wild guess or ballpark estimate.

I can take a swag at the answer, but it may not be right.