swashing

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of swash

comparative more swashing · superlative most swashing

1. Hectoring; swaggering.

   Weele haue a ſwaſhing and marſhall outſide, / As manie other manniſh cowards haue, / That doe outface it with their ſemblances.

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 187, column 2

2. Crushing; resounding.

   Draw [your swords] if you be men, Gregorie, remember thy [ſ]waſhing blowe.

   c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Iuliet. […] (Second Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, […], published 1599, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   1 more example

   And with this ſwaſhing blow, do you ſwear Prince; / I could hulk your Grace, and hang you up croſs-legg'd, / Like a Hare at a Poulters, and do this with this wiper.

   c. 1608–1610, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “Philaster: Or, Love Lies a Bleeding”, in Fifty Comedies and Tragedies. […], [part 1], London: […] J[ohn] Macock [and H. Hills], for John Martyn, Henry Herringman, and Richard Marriot, published 1679, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i, page 37, column 2

plural swashings

1. A back-and-forth movement of liquid; a swish or swash.