different between swish vs swishy

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sw??/
• Rhymes: -??

Adjective

swish (comparative swisher or more swish, superlative swishest or most swish)

1. (Britain, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.
2. Attractive, stylish
   • 2014, Paul Doyle, "Southampton hammer eight past hapless Sunderland in barmy encounter", The Guardian, 18 October 2014:

     The Saints, who started the day third in the table, went marching on thanks to their own swish play and some staggering defending by the visitors.

3. Effeminate.

Translations

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

• swoosh
• whoosh

Translations

Verb

swish (third-person singular simple present swishes, present participle swishing, simple past and past participle swished)

1. To make a rustling sound while moving.
   • 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.
3. (transitive, slang, dated) To flog; to lash.
   • c. 1842, William Makepeace Thackeray, Character Sketches

     Doctor Wordsworth and assistants would swish that error out of him in a way that need not here be mentioned.

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.

6. (transitive) To cause a liquid to move around in a container, or in one's mouth.

   Swish the mouthwash around the mouth and between the teeth for one minute.

Derived terms

• aswish

Interjection

swish

1. A hissing or whistling sound of something travelling quickly through the air.

Translations

English

Etymology

swish +? -y

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??i

Adjective

swishy (comparative swishier, superlative swishiest)

1. Producing a swishing sound.

   a long, swishy dress

2. (Britain) Swish; fancy, posh, impressive.
3. (informal, of a man) Effeminate; gay
   • 2002, Bill Barry, Honor Clean (page 2)

     And quit flouncing that rifle around like a swishy fag, wiggling the dressed ranks on my parade ground. Hear me, Private Driggers?

Derived terms

• swishily
• swishiness