swan-upping

[ swon-uhp-ing ]
/ ˈswɒnˌʌp ɪŋ /

noun British.

the taking up of young swans to mark them with nicks on the beak for identification.
an annual expedition for this purpose on the Thames.

Origin of swan-upping

1800–10; swan1 + upping ( up + -ing1)

Example sentences from the Web for swan-upping

British Dictionary definitions for swan-upping

swan-upping

noun British

the practice or action of marking nicks in swans' beaks as a sign of ownership
the annual swan-upping of royal cygnets on the River Thames

Word Origin for swan-upping

C16: from up (in the archaic sense: to catch and mark a swan)