Swish
/swɪʃ/noun
To move with a hissing or rustling sound, or a quick sweeping motion.
Did you know?Swish is an expressive English sound-word, and its power comes from imitation: it was formed to feel like the noise it names, not borrowed from a single ancient ritual root.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
swish
“An imitative word for a hissing, rustling, or sweeping sound and movement.”
16th-17th Century
English
swish
“Used for the sound of something cutting through air or water, often with a sharp, brisk motion.”
18th-19th Century
English
swish
“Extended to describe a stylish, brisk, or showy manner or movement.”
Modern English
English
swish
“A quick, hissing movement or sound; also a fashionable or flamboyant style.”