I. ˈswäsh, -wȯsh noun
( -es )
Etymology: probably imitative
1.
a.
(1) : a body or mass of dashing splashing water
(2)
or swash channel : a narrow sound or channel of water lying within a sandbank or between a sandbank and the shore
b.
(1) : a dashing or splashing of water against or upon something ; specifically : the rush of water up a beach from a breaking wave
(2) : the sound made by the swash of water
c. : a bar over which the sea washes or an area covered by shallow seawater
d. : a slushy sloppy condition of the ground
2.
a. : one that swaggers and blusters : swashbuckler
b. : blustering noise or behavior : swagger
3. : a heavy or resounding blow on or from a yielding substance
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
intransitive verb
1. : to act in a blustering and bullying manner : put on or present an air of swaggering bravado : swagger
2. : to make a noise by or as if by clashing a sword on a sword or shield
3. : to make violent noisy movements ; also : to move or wander violently or erratically
whole tribes and peoples have swashed back and forth between Europe and Asia — Waldemar Kaempffert
4.
a. of a liquid : to move or become moved back and forth or around and around with a splashing sound
water swashed throatily in a gourd — Oliver LaFarge
b. : to move within a liquid : cause a liquid to splash or become washed around or back and forth
the intruder … swashing through the pond — Mary McCarthy
transitive verb
1. : to cause (a liquid) to splash about or dash upon something
swash water in a pail
2. : to cause a liquid to splash forcefully upon
buckets to swash the decks with water — H.A.Chippendale
III. adjective
Etymology: from obsolete swash slanting, of unknown origin
: having one or more strokes ending in an extended flourish
the swash letters ARPN