Whoosh
/wʊʃ/noun
A sudden rushing or hissing sound, or to move quickly with such a sound.
Did you know?‘Whoosh’ is an onomatopoeic word, meaning it was coined to imitate the sound itself rather than inherited from an older root, which is why it feels so instantly physical.
Etymological Timeline
Modern English
English
whoosh
“A rushing, hissing sound; to move rapidly with that sound.”
20th Century
English
whoosh
“A playful imitative spelling and pronunciation used to represent a swift rush of air or movement.”
Earlier English
English
whish
“A similar rushing or hissing sound, especially the sound of something moving swiftly.”
Earlier English
English
swish
“A soft brushing or rushing sound, especially from quick movement.”