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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SWASH, v., n.¹, adj. Also erron. smash; swish. [swɑʃ]

I. v. 1. tr. (1) To dash down, to cast against the ground (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis s.v. squat; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187); to slash; to beat (Gregor; Ags. 1926; Kcb. 1972). Ppl.adj. swashing, forceful, energetic, strenuous, dashing; vbl.n. swashin, a severe beating (Gregor). In most of the following usages also dial. or colloq. in Eng. and U.S.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 144:
To the wreathèd storm He sets his breast, wi' ardent, swashing pith.Dmf. 1898 J. Paton Castlebraes 99:
I swashed ma gully knife across the rape.

(2) specif. to dash or splash (liquid) about or over (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 214; I.Sc. 1972).Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xix.:
I swashed down such showers on the top of the flames.

(3) to swish, whisk, sweep from side to side (Kcb. 1972).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 499:
His cowt grew reezy, its lang tail 'Twad swash, and lugs wad birr up.

2. intr. To splash or plunge about in water (Sh. 1972).Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 82:
The deil, as lang's he likes, may swash For me in Burnock Water.

3. intr. (1) to rush to and fro, to move about excitedly or energetically, bustle. Freq. in Carlyle.Sc. 1828 Carlyle Letters (Norton) I. 166:
There are masons and joiners, and flaggers, and hewers, and plasterers; and all is swashing and swattering in extremity of bustle.Sc. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Revol. ii. iv. § 6:
Your dusty Mill of Valmy may cease swashing and circling.

(2) to go about in a showy ostentatious way, to swagger, cut a dash (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187; Abd., Ags. 1972), to brag, boast (Gregor). Also with it. Vbl.n., ppl.adj. swashan, -in, swaggering. Agent n. swasher, a big swaggering fellow; anything big and showy of its kind (Gregor).Bnff. 1881 W. M. Philip K. MacIntosh's Scholars iv.:
To come swashin ower the lan' o' Bredoyne sheetin', and carryin' awa' oor game.

II. n. 1. A severe blow, thwack, a clashing or dashing against or upon (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187); the noise made by such (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis s.v. squat), a swish.Sc. 1834 Chambers's Jnl. (Aug.) 233:
Coming in upon us with a swash of the tawse.Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes ix.:
The cruel serpent of leather went at him coiling round his legs with a sudden, hissing swash.Dmf. 1898 J. Paton Castlebraes 49:
Ye'll get a swash o' this heezel rung.

2. A splash or plunge in water; a dash of water, the wash or motion of waves against some object (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 214; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; I.Sc. 1972); a wet sopping state. Adj. swashy, splashy, awash with water, soggy.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 31:
Forthwith, amain, he plunges on his prey Wi' eager swash [a salmon at bait].Dmf. 1803 W. Wilson Poems I. 17:
Till wi a swash he tumbled in A hole where lint was steeping.Sc. 1820 A. Sutherland St Kathleen III. iv.:
She cud never stay upo' deck in a swash o' a sea.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 184:
As they were sporting to and fro', With many a swash and sweep.s.Sc. 1859 Bards of Border (Watson) 109:
An' younge an' auld are eftir hir, Throwe pale an' swashy myre.Sc. 1864 Carlyle Frederick xvi. xiv.:
Ground in a swash with December rains.Sh. 1960 Shetland Hamefarin 13:
We . . took a bra grain fae da swash o' da sea.

3. (1) A large amount of drink or solid food (Bwk. 1825 Jam.; I.Sc. 1972).Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 193:
Me, that has seen swashes o't [brandy].Ags. 1848 Montrose Standard (7 April) 5:
It needs a swash o' drink to keep it doun.Sh. 1923 T. Manson Lerwick 386:
Nothing better than a “swash o cowld lemonade.”

(2) A large amount, in gen.:Sc. 1825 Jam.:
A swash of siller, a large sum of money.Ags. 1895 J. Inglis My Ain Folk 135:
There's a michty swash o' eggs comin' intae the market.Abd. 1922 A. R. Birnie Jock McAndrew 22:
Here's you sittin' as usual, wi' a swish o' flannin roon yer lugs.

(3) Any big imposing animal, a hefty creature.Dmf. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales I. 286:
Great smashis [sic] o' ill-bred tatty things [sheep].

4. (1) Affected ostentatious behaviour, a swagger, dash; show, brag, bluster; a strutting haughty gait (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187). Adj. swashie, -y, of showy appearance, ostentatious, dashing, strapping (Ib.; Abd. 1972).Ags. 1820 D. Wyllie Misc. Pieces 15:
His money matters to disguise And to take on a cursed swash.Sc. 1837 J. M. Galloway Poems 22:
Some strutting dandies cast a dash, They fish a dead head for a swash.Edb. 1866 J. Inglis Poems 74:
A fine, round ribbet, swashy ewe.Bnff. 1900 Banffshire Jnl. (14 Aug.) 6:
Wi' bousin' birkies rantin' fou An' swashie chiels that haud the ploo.Kcd. 1914 Rymour Club Misc. II. 123:
The first pair upon this place They're a pair of swashie blues.Abd. 1968 Fraserburgh Herald (6 Dec.) 6:
Oor Secent Man's a swashie chiel, He aye wis dossin up his pair.

(2) A swaggering fellow, a vain, foppish, ostentatious person, a braggart (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187).Sc. 1824 S. Ferrier Inheritance II. xviii.:
A great gormandizing swash.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 83:
As for mysel', I'm sure I wadna fash To plague my head wi' ilka orra swash.

III. adj. 1. Fuddled with drink, tipsy. So Ramsay's Gl., phs. derived from the notion of I. 2. or 3.(1). Cf. also Eng. dial. squash, soft and juicy of fruit, but the meaning may be more correctly = 2. below.Sc. 1711 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 12:
Fou closs we us'd to drink and rant, Right swash I true.Edb. 1851 A. Maclagan Sketches 151:
Ye'll aiblins fin' some drunken loon, Swath [sic] i' the gutter, sleepin' soun'.

2. Showy in appearance or manners, ostentatious, gaudy, swell, swaggering.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187:
He's gotten a swash new hat. He's a swash chap, the new doctor.

3. “Of a broad make; or of a full habit” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.); “squat” (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. Gl.). This meaning is somewhat doubtful.