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swish - 7 dictionary results

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)
4. to flourish, whisk, etc., with a swishing movement or sound: to swish a cane.
5. to bring, take, cut, etc., with such a movement or sound: to swish off the tops of plants with a cane.
6. to flog or whip.
–noun
7. a swishing movement or sound.
8. a stock or rod for flogging or a stroke with this.
9. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. an effeminate male homosexual.
–adjective
10. Slang. swishy (def. 2).
11. Chiefly British Informal. stylishly elegant; fashionable.

Origin:
1750–60; imit.


swisher, noun
swish⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

swish⋅y

[swish-ee]
–adjective, swish⋅i⋅er, swish⋅i⋅est.
1. causing, giving rise to, or characterized by a swishing sound or motion.
2. Also, swish. Slang. exhibiting effeminate tendencies or characteristics.

Origin:
1820–30; swish + -y 1
swish   (swĭsh)   
v.   swished, swish·ing, swish·es

v.   intr.
  1. To move with a hissing or whistling sound, as a whip.
  2. To rustle, as silk.
v.   tr.
  1. To cause to make a swishing sound.
  2. To strike or cut with a swishing sound.
  3. To whip with a rod.
n.  
    1. A sharp whistling or rustling sound: the swish of scythes.
    2. A movement making such a sound.
    3. A rod used for flogging.
    4. A stroke made with such a rod.
    1. A rod used for flogging.
    2. A stroke made with such a rod.
  1. Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man.
adj.  
  1. Informal Fashionable; posh: "a swish pastry shop on the Rue du Bac" (Julia Child).
  2. Slang Effeminate.

[Imitative.]

Swish

Swish\, v. t. [From the sound. Cf. Swash.]

1. To flourish, so as to make the sound swish. --Coleridge.

2. To flog; to lash. [Slang] --Thackeray.

Swish

Swish\, v. i. To dash; to swash.

Swish

Swish\, n. 1. A sound of quick movement, as of something whirled through the air. [Colloq.]

2. (Naut.) Light driven spray. [Eng.]
Language Translation for : swish
Spanish: (hacer) chasquear; (hacer) crujir,
German: sausen (lassen),
Japanese: ぴゅーと鳴らす

swish  (v.)
1756, probably imitative of the sound made by something brushing against or through something. The noun is from 1820; sense of "effeminate homosexual" is 1930s in homosexual slang, probably from notion of mincing motion.
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