a. [f. SWASHBUCKLER (apprehended as an agent-n. in -EN1) + -ING2.] Acting like, or characteristic of the conduct of, a swashbuckler; noisily swaggering, blustering. So Swashbuckling sb.

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a. 1693.  Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. xlii. 349. The huff, snuff,… swash-buckling High Germans.

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1855.  Daily Missouri Democrat, 28 March, 2/2. That despicable swashbuckling fellow, the editor [Boernstein] of the Anzeiger des Westens, on Tuesday morning fully endorsed the Know Nothing primary meetings of the bogus Republican.

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1863.  Sala, in Temple Bar, IX. 65. The Hungarian are stout wines, of a swashbuckling flavour; but a man needs a strong head to drink pottle deep of them.

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1865.  Kingsley, Herew., xxxii. A liar, a bully, a robber, a swash-buckling ruffian.

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1888.  Boston (Mass.) Transcript, 7 July, 4/4. Swashbucklers are generally satisfied with swashbuckling.

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1889.  T. B. Reed in Boy’s Own Paper, 3 Aug., 696/1. A score or more of swashbuckling ’prentices were on board the ship.

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1894.  Athenæum, 27 Oct., 565/3. The one occasionally degenerates into artifice, and the other into literary swashbuckling.

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  Hence (back-formation) Swashbuckle v., to swagger noisily, act like a blustering bravo.

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1897.  Westm. Gaz., 6 Jan., 3/1. He strikes one as a bravo, he swashbuckles and swaggers.

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