Number 2 is the one I was always familiar with. British cartoons involving thieves would have their bags of loot labelled Swag. We sometimes used the term to cover freebies from trade shows and convention tables... Ciao, Andrew -----Original Message----- From: Michele Riccio [mailto:mr1 at rcosta.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 3:17 PM To: dragaera at dragaera.info Subject: Re: swag On 8 Dec 2004 at 12:28, Jerry Friedman wrote > I'm not familiar with this use of "swag". Is it a fan thing? > (The Internet is my only contact with fandom.) > I don't know if it's fannish - I've always known it to be another word for "stuff" or "gifts". As in, "Did you get much swag for Christmas?" The American Heritage Dictionary has some interesting usages: NOUN: 1a. An ornamental drapery or curtain draped in a curve between two points. b. An ornamental festoon of flowers or fruit. c. A carving or plaster molding of such an ornament. 2. Slang Stolen property; loot. 3. Australian The pack or bundle containing the personal belongings of a swagman. 4. Slang Herbal tea in a plastic sandwich bag sold as marijuana to an unsuspecting customer. INTRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: swagged, swag*ging, swags 1. Chiefly British To lurch or sway. 2. Australian To travel about with a pack or swag. ETYMOLOGY: Probably of Scandinavian origin. Michele Riccio mr1 at rcosta.com ****************************************** The information contained in, or attached to, this e-mail, may contain confidential information and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed and may be subject to legal privilege. If you have received this e-mail in error you should notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail, delete the message from your system and notify your system manager. Please do not copy it for any purpose, or disclose its contents to any other person. The views or opinions presented in this e-mail are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused, directly or indirectly, by any virus transmitted in this email. ******************************************