swashing


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swash

 (swŏsh, swôsh)
n.
1.
a. A splash of water or other liquid hitting a solid surface.
b. The sound of such a splash.
2.
a. The washing of water over an expanse of sand, as after a wave breaks on a beach.
b. Southeastern US A tidal channel forming a break in a beach, barrier island, or sandbar.
3. See uprush.
4.
a. Swagger or bluster.
b. A swaggering or blustering person.
v. swashed, swash·ing, swash·es
v.intr.
1. To strike, move, or wash with a splashing sound.
2. To swagger.
v.tr.
1. To splash (a liquid).
2. To splash a liquid against.

[Probably imitative.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
The felucca went on, the boat continued stationary, rocked only by the swashing waves.
( Leaps to his feet.) Portuguese Sailor How the sea rolls swashing 'gainst the side!
cried Stubb at this instant, as a swashing sea heaved up under his own little craft, so that its gunwale violently jammed his hand, as he was passing a lashing.