Word Study
swish
CIDE DICTIONARY
swish, v. t. [From the sound. Cf. Swash.].
- To flourish, so as to make the sound swish. Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
- To flog; to lash. Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
swish, v. i.
To dash; to swash. [1913 Webster]
swish, n.
- A sound of quick movement, as of something whirled through the air. [1913 Webster]
- Light driven spray. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
swish, v., n., & adj.
--v.
1 tr. swing (a scythe or stick etc.) audibly through the air, grass, etc.
2 intr. move with or make a swishing sound.
3 tr. (foll. by off) cut (a flower etc.) in this way.
--n. a swishing action or sound.
--adj. colloq. smart, fashionable.
--v.
1 tr. swing (a scythe or stick etc.) audibly through the air, grass, etc.
2 intr. move with or make a swishing sound.
3 tr. (foll. by off) cut (a flower etc.) in this way.
--n. a swishing action or sound.
--adj. colloq. smart, fashionable.
Derivative
swishy adj.
Etymology
imit.
THESAURUS
swish
assibilate, assibilation, babble, bent, bubble, burble, buzz, campy, classy, crinkle, de rigueur, effeminate, effervesce, effervescence, effervescing, elegant, exclusive, fashionable, fizz, fizzle, fizzling, frication, frictional rustling, fruity, gay, guggle, gurgle, hiss, hissing, homosexual, hush, hushing, in, kinky, lap, lisp, plash, plush, posh, purl, queer, rhonchus, ripple, ritzy, rustle, shush, shushing, sibilance, sibilate, sibilation, siffle, sigmatism, siss, sissing, sizz, sizzle, sizzling, slosh, smart, sneeze, sneezing, sniff, sniffle, snore, snort, snuff, snuffle, spit, splash, splutter, sputter, squash, squelch, squish, sternutation, stertor, stylish, susurrate, swank, swanky, swash, swell, tony, trendy, trill, wash, wheeze, whish, whisk, whisper, whistle, whistling, white noise, whiz, whoosh, with-it, zipROGET THESAURUS
swish
Sibilation
VB hiss, buzz, whiz, rustle, fizz, fizzle, wheeze, whistle, snuffle, squash, sneeze, sizzle, swish.For further exploring for "swish" in Webster Dictionary Online