swish

[ swish ]

/ swɪʃ /

verb (used without object)

to move with or make a sibilant sound, as a slender rod cutting sharply through the air or as small waves washing on the shore.

to rustle, as silk.

to move or behave in an exaggeratedly effeminate manner.

verb (used with object)

to flourish, whisk, etc., with a swishing movement or sound: to swish a cane.

to bring, take, cut, etc., with such a movement or sound: to swish off the tops of plants with a cane.

to flog or whip.

noun

a swishing movement or sound.

a stock or rod for flogging or a stroke with this.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to an effeminate male homosexual.

adjective

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. swishy(def 2).

Chiefly British Informal. stylishly elegant; fashionable.

Origin of swish

First recorded in 1750–60; imitative

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

swish·er, noun swish·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby swish

swipe card, swipes, swipple, swirl, swirly, swish, swishy, swiss, swiss army knife, swiss ball, swiss chard

Example sentences from the Web for swishing

All at once the pace slackened, and the swishing sound ceased.

The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam |John Henry Goldfrap
A swishing murmur like the wind in the tree-tops came from the great expanse.

The Home of the Blizzard |Douglas Mawson
This signalling was interrupted by the sound of a body being dragged or dragging itself with slow, swishing sound under the barn.

The Little Regiment |Stephen Crane
A turn or two more, and the wheels were swishing into the graveled court of a stately mansion.

What Will People Say? |Rupert Hughes

A rustling, swishing sound was heard, close by, in the next room.

The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari |James S. De Benneville

British Dictionary definitions for swishing

swish

/ (swɪʃ) /

verb

to move with or make or cause to move with or make a whistling or hissing sound

(intr) (esp of fabrics) to rustle

(tr) slang, rare to whip; flog

(tr foll by off) to cut with a swishing blow

noun

a hissing or rustling sound or movement

a rod for flogging or a blow from such a rod

US slang an effeminate male homosexual

a W African building material composed of mortar and mud or laterite, or more recently of cement and earth

adjective

informal, mainly British fashionable; smart

US slang effeminate and homosexual

Derived forms of swish

swisher, noun swishing, adjective swishingly, adverb

Word Origin for swish

C18: of imitative origin

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swish

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

Origin of swish

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

Words nearby swish

Example sentences from the Web for swishing

British Dictionary definitions for swishing

verb

noun

adjective

Derived forms of swish

Word Origin for swish

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swish

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

Origin of swish

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

Words nearby swish

Words related to swishing

Example sentences from the Web for swishing

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for swishing

verb

noun

adjective

Derived forms of swish

Word Origin for swish

British Dictionary definitions for swishing