swash

American  

[swosh, swawsh] / swɒʃ, swɔʃ /

verb (used without object)

1. to splash, as things in water, or as water does.

   Waves were swashing against the piers.

2. to dash around, as things in violent motion.

3. to swagger.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to dash or cast violently, especially to dash (water or other liquid) around, down, etc.

noun

1. the surging or dashing, sometimes violent, of water, waves, etc.

2. the sound made by such dashing.

   the thunderous swash of the waves.

3. the ground over which water washes.

4. Chiefly Southeastern U.S. a channel of water through or behind a sandbank.

5. Printing. an extending ornamental flourish, as on letters of certain fonts of italic or cursive type.

adjective

1. Printing. noting or pertaining to a character having a swash.

   a swash letter.

swash British  

/ swɒʃ /

verb

1. (intr) (esp of water or things in water) to wash or move with noisy splashing

2. (tr) to dash (a liquid, esp water) against or upon

3. archaic (intr) to swagger or bluster

---

noun

1. Also called: send.  the dashing movement or sound of water, such as that of waves on a beach Compare backwash

2. any other swashing movement or sound

3. a sandbar washed by the waves

4. Also called: swash channel.  a channel of moving water cutting through or running behind a sandbank

5. archaic

   1. swagger or bluster

   2. a swashbuckler

Etymology

Origin of swash

First recorded in 1520–30; imitative

Example Sentences

Trent Bridge had been the birth of Bazball, a breathtaking run chase led by the swash and buckle of Jonny Bairstow on a sun-soaked Tuesday evening in June 2022.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

“Because I know that my good golf is good enough,” he said all calmly, with neither swash nor buckle.

From Washington Post • Apr. 7, 2023

And Blooming Elegant is the swash queen, offering dramatic tails of adjustable length from any word.

From Slate • Jan. 24, 2023

The developer showed off new footage of the game as a part of its Ubisoft Forward event highlighting all the timbers you’ll get to shiver and buckles you’ll get to swash.

From The Verge • Jul. 7, 2022

He paused to brush away a mosquito and rubbed a swash of mud across one side of his face.

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park