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.

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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

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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

Admittedly, ruthlessness does not go hand-in-hand with the swash and buckle that makes England thrilling to watch.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2024

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

Next in line are the tiny sand crabs that tickle your toes in the swash zone, where waves push up onto the sloping beachfront leaving lines of foam and clumps of oil.

From Washington Post • Oct. 5, 2021

I want gallantry from her, swash buckling, heroism, single-handed combat.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood