the vb.-stem used attrib. or advb.: swish-broom, a short-handled broom, usually made of twigs, for swishing water, etc.; swish-cane, a light slender cane such as can be swished; so swish-whip; swish cut sb. (see quot. 1725); a. (see quot. 1831); swish-tail, † (a) slang, a pheasant; (b) a long flowing tail that can be swished about (earlier SWITCH tail); also attrib.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, 151. A light *swish cane he twirled about.
1725. Fam. Dict., II. 5 Y 4/2. [A horse] that … neither cuts under his Knee, which is call’d the *Swish Cut, nor crosses, nor claps one Foot on another.
1831. Lincoln Herald, 11 Feb., 1. The tail of the coat swish cut (cut off towards a point).
1796. Grose’s Dict. Vulgar T. (ed. 3), *Swish Tail, a pheasant; so called by the persons who sell game for the poachers.
1826. Sporting Mag., XVIII. 431. [He] had four swishtail greys, but not of the right cut.
1844. J. T. Hewlett, Parsons & W., iii. His swish tail ain’t long enough.
1845. J. T. Smith, Bk. for Rainy Day, 93. He … carried a *swish-whip when he walked.
