swish

[ swish ]

verb (used without object)

1. 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.
2. to rustle, as silk.
3. to move or behave in an exaggeratedly effeminate manner.

verb (used with object)

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

   to swish a cane.

2. to bring, take, cut, etc., with such a movement or sound:

   to swish off the tops of plants with a cane.

3. to flog or whip.

noun

1. a swishing movement or sound.
2. a stock or rod for flogging or a stroke with this.
3. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to an effeminate gay man.

adjective

1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. swishy ( def 2 ).
2. Chiefly British Informal. stylishly elegant; fashionable.

swish

/ swɪʃ /

verb

1. to move with or make or cause to move with or make a whistling or hissing sound
2. intr (esp of fabrics) to rustle
3. slang.
   tr to whip; flog
4. trfoll byoff to cut with a swishing blow

noun

1. a hissing or rustling sound or movement
2. a rod for flogging or a blow from such a rod
3. slang.
   an effeminate male homosexual
4. a W African building material composed of mortar and mud or laterite, or more recently of cement and earth

adjective

1. informal.
   fashionable; smart
2. slang.
   effeminate and homosexual

Derived Forms

• ˈswishing, adjective
• ˈswisher, noun
• ˈswishingly, adverb

Other Words From

• swish·er noun
• swish·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of swish¹

First recorded in 1750–60; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of swish¹

C18: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Place them in a bowl and cover with very cold water, using your hands to swish them around.

From Washington Post

Henry launched a lid-lifting three-point shot from out front on the first possession, and it swished.

From Washington Post

Ever an overachiever, I swished it around about 20 times, and it tickled.

From Voice of San Diego

Imagine if the swishing threads inside your jeans pocket could charge your cell phone.

From Science News For Students

Star center Nikola Jokić’s one-legged, leaning fadeaways, which nearly touch the rafters before swishing through, would get the “Sport Science” treatment.

From FiveThirtyEight

SB Nation and their Swish Appeal site do a pretty bang-up job, as well.

From The Daily Beast

Odds are, you expected Jackson to swish all three, but first freebie dribbled off the front of the rim and suddenly, hope renewed!

From The Daily Beast

In Kavala Graha, you use a smaller amount of oil, swish between the teeth, and gargle at the back of the throat.

From The Daily Beast

Caldecott says that if you swish oil for too long, you could accidentally breathe some into your lungs.

From The Daily Beast

Swish it, especially around the cheeks and upper palate, and pull it through your teeth.

From The Daily Beast

The swish of a skirt seemed ridiculously loud in the hush, and the scratching of the judge's quill pen was noisily irritating.

From Project Gutenberg

"Here's Kitty," said the maker of mineral waters, as there was the swish of a skirt at the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly they parted, with quick swish and rapid rustling of leaves, and the next moment appeared a wonderful vision.

From Project Gutenberg

Three sounds of increase: the lowing of a cow in milk; the din of a smithy; the swish of a plough.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly we heard the swish of a dress behind, and turned, conscience-stricken, though we had in nothing sinned.

From Project Gutenberg