swap

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To give one thing and receive another in exchange.

   Can I swap my seat with yours?

2. 2
   noun

   An exchange of one thing for another.

   We made a fair swap: my book for her pen.

From Middle English swappen (“to swap”), originally meaning "to hurl" or "to strike", the word alludes to striking hands together when making an exchange; probably from Old English *swappian, a secondary form of Old English swāpan (“to swoop”). Cognate with German schwappen (“to slosh, slop”). Compare also Middle English swippen (“to strike, hit”), from Old English swipian (“to scourge, strike, beat, lash”), Old Norse svipa (“to swoop, flash, whip, look after, look around”). More at swipe.

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