swish
Pronunciation Adjective

swish (comparative swisher, superlative swishest)

  1. (British, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.
    This restaurant looks very swish — it even has linen tablecloths.
  2. Attractive, stylish
  3. Effeminate.
Translations
  • Russian: шика́рный
Noun

swish (plural swishes)

  1. A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.
  2. A hissing, sweeping movement through the air, as of an animal's tail.
  3. A sound of liquid flowing inside a container.
    • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4
      There were four or five men in the vault already, and I could hear more coming down the passage, and guessed from their heavy footsteps that they were carrying burdens. There was a sound, too, of dumping kegs down on the ground, with a swish of liquor inside them, and then the noise of casks being moved.
  4. A twig or bundle of twigs, used for administering beatings; a switch
  5. (basketball) A successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.
  6. (slang) An effeminate male homosexual.
    • 1992, Leigh W. Rutledge, The gay decades: from Stonewall to the present
      "Fairies, nances, swishes, fags, lezzes — call 'em what you please — should of course be permitted to earn honest livings […]
  7. (Canada, prison, slang) An improvised alcoholic drink made by fermenting whatever ingredients are available.
Related terms Translations Verb

swish (swishes, present participle swishing; past and past participle swished)

  1. To make a rustling sound while moving.
    The cane swishes.
    • 1922, A. M. Chisholm, A Thousand a Plate
      In the stern of the low-laden canoe his paddle swished steadily and powerfully, with thrust of straight, stiff upper arm backed by a twisting swing of the body from the waist, and with every stroke the little craft leaped as if a giant hand had shoved her forward.
  2. (transitive) To flourish with a swishing sound.
    to swish a cane back and forth
    • Sir Nicholas grinn'd and swish'd his tail
      With joy and admiration,
      For he thought of his daughter Victory,
      And her darling child Taxation.
  3. (transitive, slang, dated) To flog; to lash.
  4. (basketball) To make a successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.
  5. (gay slang) To mince or otherwise to behave in an effeminate manner.
    I shall not swish; I'll merely act limp-wristed.



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