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.

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. 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

Other Word Forms

• swishing adjective
• swisher noun
• swishingly 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

In the coming days, the drizzly gray weather along the coast is not expected to change much, said Mehle, who drove to work in Monterey on Saturday with his windshield wipers swishing.

From Los Angeles Times

It would have been a flex to take down two greats with one swish of the blade, yet that is not Root's style.

From BBC

One wonders about the butterfly effect caused by the swish of Jadeja's blade.

From BBC

Where there used to be rusting rolling stock and derelict sidings, there is now a swish shopping centre, smart restaurants and the oddly bulbous, 42-storey Belgrade Tower.

From BBC

It’s believed that there are now more than 100 baby trout swishing around their new digs in Arroyo Hondo Creek in Santa Barbara County.

From Los Angeles Times