swizzle

American  

[swiz-uhl] / ˈswɪz əl /

noun

1. a tall drink, originating in Barbados, composed of full-flavored West Indian rum, lime juice, crushed ice, and sugar: typically served with a swizzle stick.

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verb (used with object)

swizzled, swizzling

1. to agitate (a beverage) with a swizzle stick.

2. to gulp down; guzzle.

swizzle British  

/ ˈswɪzəl /

noun

1. an unshaken cocktail

2. an alcoholic drink containing gin or rum

3. informal a swiz

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verb

1. (tr) to stir a swizzle stick in (a drink)

2. informal to swindle; cheat

Other Word Forms

• swizzler noun

Etymology

Origin of swizzle

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

The South Carolina license plate on the Honda stopped in front of me at a red light, and its silhouette of the state’s signature palm looking regrettably like a tarantula atop a swizzle stick.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2025

Also included are a champagne swizzle stick and a metal-mounted foliate cocktail stick holder.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2023

There were pastel-colored roses, a five-tier cake, customized swizzle sticks, what appeared to be a smoke machine, and two enormous moss bears the size of kodiaks.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2022

Use a spoon or swizzle stick to gently stir the liquids under the foam.

From Fox News • Nov. 27, 2021

Then she cleared everything—compact, billfold, laundry bill, toothbrush, a tin of aspirins, and a gold-plated swizzle stick—back into her handbag.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger