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

At just after 11:00 GMT on Saturday, at a swish spot up the road from Westminster, we will find out whether it will be Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick who will replace Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader.

From BBC

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

Doncic set a defiant tone by starting 4 for 4, hitting rainbows from 28 and 31 feet as he turned to talk trash to the courtside fans with each swish.

From Seattle Times

After the swish, Doncic flexed his arms and yelled at the stunned crowd as his teammates swarmed him.

From Seattle Times

His top-of-the-key swish at the end of the third quarter gave the Wolves an 86-79 cushion just after the Mavericks closed the gap hard with a 21-7 spurt — mostly while Conley rested — over a 6:36 stretch.

From Seattle Times