swash

[ swosh, swawsh ]

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

/ 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. See backwash
   Also calledsend 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 calledswash channel a channel of moving water cutting through or running behind a sandbank
5. archaic.
   1. swagger or bluster
   2. a swashbuckler

Word History and Origins

Origin of swash¹

First recorded in 1520–30; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of swash¹

C16: probably of imitative origin

Example Sentences

It is at that point that the wave transforms, from an energy-transporting wave of oscillation to a water-moving wave of translation, more commonly known as “swash.”

From Nautilus

It was for no lucre of gain I took you and your swash-buckler, your Don Diego yonder, under my poor roof.

From Project Gutenberg

Here were poor innocent working men, and here was this bloodthirsty swash-buckler inciting their own brothers to slay them.

From Project Gutenberg

Ben Gile began to swash his bucket up and down, up and down, in the stream until the water fairly rocked.

From Project Gutenberg

One minute I'd see the skipper and the mate h'isted up in the air, hammerin' for dear life, and then, swash!

From Project Gutenberg

Their meek eyes followed him as he stumped into the swash and kicked up two belaying-pins floating in the debris.

From Project Gutenberg