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

This is still a show where whatever swishing inside those omnipresent golden goblets takes the edge of most tensions.

From Salon

With a puff of the cheeks, a swish of the hair, Smith jagged off his left foot, leaving England wing Tommy Freeman hopelessly off balance on his way to the tryline.

From BBC

The TGV trains swishing through the French countryside at 230 mph were in stark contrast to the UK’s creaking rolling stock.

From BBC

Hutton said: "A horse will move a fly off its backside by swishing its tail, it will react to the lightest of touches."

From BBC

In the partially enclosed waiting area, parents stand on both sides of me, hoisting their kids onto their shoulders to watch the cars glide through the tracks of swishing cloth towers.

From Salon