I. ˈplash, -aa(ə)sh, -aish noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English plasche, from Old English plæsc; akin to Middle Dutch plasch, plas pool, plash; all probably of imitative origin
: a shallow or marshy pool : puddle
the bird … bathed itself in some plashes nearby — Hugh McCrae
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English plashen, from Middle French plaissier, from Old French, from plais hedge, twined fence, probably from (assumed) Vulgar Latin plaxus entwined, alteration of Latin plexus, past participle of plectere to entwine, braid — more at ply
Britain : pleach
plash a hedge
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: probably imitative
1.
a. : a surface agitation of water with accompanying sound
the measured plash of oars — A.C.Benson
the ceaseless plash of the waves — William Black
b.
(1) : a splashing movement of water
plash of the fountains from the mouths of stone dolphins — Mark Schorer
(2) : a movement or sound suggestive of the splashing of water
the plash of the paintbrush against the wall — Donald Windham
the plash of bare feet made him turn his head — Josephine Pinckney
c. : a dash or blotch especially of color or light
a few plashes of white in the breast of the duck — J.H.Robinson †1935
effect of the wilder plash of irresponsible prismatic impressions which vertigo had unloosed — Florence Gould
2. dialect chiefly England : a heavy fall of rain
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: perhaps from Dutch plassen, from Middle Dutch, of imitative origin
transitive verb
1. : to break the surface of (water) so as to cause a surface agitation with an accompanying sound : splash
2. : dash , spatter , speckle
no bird on dew- plashed wing — Walter de la Mare
intransitive verb
1. : to dash or tumble about with a splashing or spattering sound — used especially of water
far below him plashed the waters — H.W.Longfellow
raindrops plashed on the tile roof — Anne S. Mehdevi
2. : to cause a splashing or spattering
plashing of hooves in water — Robinson Jeffers
could hear a slight plashing as the bows of the lighter forged through the water — Miles Burton