sb. (adv.). Also 6 swyshe swashe. [Reduplicated f. SWISH with alternating vowel.]

1

  1.  An inferior or wishy-washy drink. Also attrib.

2

1547.  Boorde, Introd. Knowl., ii. (1870), 126. Swyshe swashe metheglyn I take for my fees.

3

1577.  Harrison, England, III. i. 96/2, in Holinshed. There is a kind of swish swash made also in Essex,… wyth Hony and water, which the countrey wiues putting some pepper & a little other spyce among, call meade.

4

1881.  J. Sargisson, Joe Scoap’s Jurneh, 49. It was sad swish-swash stuff, an nut hoaf boilt.

5

1884.  Dowell, Taxation England, IV. 55. The small sour swish-swash of the poorer vintages of France.

6

  † 2.  A violent or swaggering person. Also attrib. Cf. SWASHBUCKLER. Obs.

7

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 92. Vp to the sky reatching, the breetherne swish swash of Ætna.

8

1593.  G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Ff iv b. Quiet thy rage, Imperious Swish-swash.

9

  B.  adv. expressing alternation or repetition of a swishing movement.

10

1865.  G. Macdonald, Alec Forbes, 29. And still the instrument of torture went swish-swash round his little thin legs.

11

1913.  M. Roberts, Salt of Sea, xix. 461. The sea had a motion in it, up and down, swish-swash.

12