swidden

Pronunciation: /ˈswɪdn̩/

The English word “swidden” has 2 meanings listed here.

noun

An area of land that has been cleared by cutting the vegetation and burning it; slash and burn.

verb

To clear an area of land by cutting and burning.

Etymology

Possibly from a dialectal form *swiden of Middle English swithen, past participle of Middle English swithen (“to burn, scorch, singe”), from Old Norse svíða (“to singe, burn”). Compare also Old Norse sviðinn (“burnt, singed”, past participle). Alternatively, from Old Norse sviðna (“to be burned”) or Old High German swedan (“to be burned”). Either way, probably ultimately from Proto-Germanic…

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