1 cygnet | Definition of cygnet

cygnet

noun
cyg·​net | \ ˈsig-nÉ™t How to pronounce cygnet (audio) \

Definition of cygnet

: a young swan

Examples of cygnet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Knox said ordinarily, the cygnets remain with the mother and father until the end of the season. Karen Berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "Apparent theft of day-old baby swans angers Highland Park neighbors," 5 June 2018 An employee for Knox Swan and Dog discovered the cygnets missing while checking areas for geese Saturday afternoon. Karen Berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "Apparent theft of day-old baby swans angers Highland Park neighbors," 5 June 2018 Knox has no doubt the baby swans, called cygnets, were taken by humans rather than killed by natural predators such as coyotes. Karen Berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "Apparent theft of day-old baby swans angers Highland Park neighbors," 5 June 2018 The young of both – called cygnets – have grayish bodies and some pink on their bills. Author: Ann Cameron Siegal, Anchorage Daily News, "U.S. East Coast welcomes northern Alaska’s tundra swans for winter break," 6 Feb. 2018 Audiences can also watch for the iconic Dance of the Little Swans, with choreography meant to imitate the way cygnets huddle and move together for protection. Nola Community Submission, NOLA.com, "Ballet Apetrei's Swan Lake dances onto Mandeville High stage Saturday," 19 May 2017 A young cygnet amongst the eight born only days previous rests on his mother's back on May 5, 2017 in Bradford on Avon, England. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, "Baby Animals & Their Moms (Because it’s Mother’s Day)," 14 May 2017 Then things went awry: The female and the cygnet ducked under a gangplank and escaped downstream. Helen Macdonald, New York Times, "In Search of Post-Brexit England, and Swans," 5 Jan. 2017 The initial attack took place last Tuesday, January 24, with four swans shot including a cygnet which subsequently had to be put to sleep. Emma Dibdin, Good Housekeeping, "Someone Is Killing Queen Elizabeth's Swans in the English Countryside," 3 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cygnet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cygnet

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cygnet

Middle English sygnett, from Anglo-French cignet, from cigne swan, from Latin cycnus, cygnus, from Greek kyknos

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More Definitions for cygnet

cygnet

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cygnet

: a young swan

More from Merriam-Webster on cygnet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cygnet