A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

suspicion --- c.1290, from Anglo-Fr. suspecioun, from O.Fr. suspeçun, sospeçon "mistrust, suspicion" (Fr. soupçon), from L. suspectionem (nom. suspectio) "mistrust, suspicion, fear, awe," from pp. stem of suspicere "look up at" (see suspect). Spelling in Eng. infl. 14c. by learned O.Fr. forms closer to L. suspicionem. Suspicious "deserving of or exciting suspicion" is recorded from 1340, from O.Fr. suspecious, from L. suspicious "exciting suspicion." Meaning "full of or inclined to feel suspicion" is attested from c.1400. Edgar Allan Poe (c.1845) proposed suspectful to take one of the two conflicting senses of suspicious.

suspire --- 1450, from L. suspirare "to draw a deep breath, sigh," from sub "under" + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit).

suss (v.) --- to figure out, investigate and discover, 1966, earlier "to suspect" (1953, police jargon), a slang shortening of suspect (v.).

sustain --- c.1290, from O.Fr. sustenir "hold up, endure," from L. sustinere "hold up, support, endure," from sub "up from below" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Sustainable growth is recorded from 1965.

sustenance --- 1297, "means of living, subsistence, livelihood," from O.Fr. sustenance (Fr. soutenance), from L.L. sustinentia "endurance," from L. sustinens, prp. of sustinere (see sustain). Meaning "action of sustaining life by food" is from c.1386. Sense of "nourishment" is recorded from c.1489.

susurration --- whisper, murmur, c.1400, from L. susurrationem (nom. susurratio), from pp. of susurrare, from susurrus "murmur, whisper," a reduplication of the PIE imitative base *swer- (cf. Skt. svarati "sounds, resounds," Gk. syrinx "flute," L. surdus "dull, mute," O.C.S. svirati "to whistle," Lith. surmo "pipe, shawm," Ger. schwirren "to buzz," O.E. swearm "swarm").

sutler --- person who follows an army to sell food to soldiers, 1590, from M.Du. soeteler "small tradesman, sutler, camp cook" (Du. zoetelaar), cognate with M.L.G. suteler, sudeler "person who performs dirty tasks," M.H.G. sudelen "to cook badly," M.Du. soetelen "to cook badly." Probably related to Du. zieder, Ger. sieden "to seethe" (see seethe).

Sutra --- series of aphorisms, 1801, from Skt. sutram "rule," lit. "string, thread" (as a measure of straightness), from sivyati "sew;" cognate with L. suere "to sew" (see sew). Applied to rules of grammar, law, philosophy, etc., along with their commentaries.

suttee --- self-cremation of a Hindu widow on her husband's funeral pyre, 1786, from Hindi, from Skt. sati "virtuous woman," fem. of sat "good, wise," lit. "existing," prp. of asmi "I am" (cognate with L. esse; see essence). Properly, the word for the woman who does so. The custom was abolished in British India in 1829.

suture --- 1541, "surgical stitching of a wound, etc.," from L. sutura "a seam, a sewing together," from sutus, pp. of suere "to sew" (see sew). The verb is recorded from 1777.

suzerain --- sovereign, ruler, c.1470 (implied in suzerainty), from O.Fr. sus "up, above" (from V.L. susum, from L. sursum "upward, above," contraction of subversum, from sub "up from below") + vertere "a turning" (see versus). With ending from sovereign.

svelte --- slender, lithe, c.1817, from Fr. svelte "slim, slender," from It. svelto "slim, slender," originally "pulled out, lengthened," from pp. of svellere "to pluck or root out," from V.L. *exvellere, from L. ex- "out" + vellere "to pluck, stretch."

Svengali --- one who exerts controlling or mesmeric influence on another, 1914, from hypnotist character of that name in the novel "Trilby" (1894) by George Du Maurier.

swab --- 1659, "mop made of rope or yarn," from swabber (1607) "mop for cleaning a ship's deck," from Du. zwabber, akin to W.Fris. swabber "mop," from P.Gmc. *swab-, perhaps of imitative origin. Non-nautical meaning "anything used for mopping up" is from 1787. The verb is first recorded 1719, possibly from the noun. Slang meaning "a sailor" first attested 1798, from swabber "member of a ship's crew assigned to swab decks" (1591), which by 1609 was being used in a broader sense of "one who behaves like a low-ranking sailor."

Swabian --- 1785, from M.L. Suabia, from Ger. Schwaben, from O.H.G. swaba, name of a Gmc. tribe, related to L. Suevus, "pertaining to the Suevi," a tribe in northeastern Germania.

swaddle --- c.1300, probably a frequentative form of O.E. swaþian (see swathe). Phrase swaddling clothes is from Coverdale (1535) translation of Luke ii:7.

swag (v.) --- to move heavily or unsteadily, 1530, probably from O.N. sveggja "to swing, sway," cognate with O.E. swingan "to swing" (see swing). The noun sense of "ornamental festoon" is first found 1794. Earlier senses of "bulky bag" (1303) and "big, blustering fellow" (1588) may represent separate borrowings from the Scand. source.

swagger --- 1590, first recorded in Shakespeare ("Midsummer Night's Dream," III.i.79), probably a frequentative form of swag (v.). The noun is attested from 1725.

Swahili --- name of a Bantu people inhabiting the coast of South Africa, 1814, from Arabic sawahil, plural of sahil "coast" + gentilic suffix -i.

swain --- c.1150, "young man attendant upon a knight," from O.N. sveinn "boy, servant, attendant," from P.Gmc. *swainaz "attendant, servant," prop. “one's own (man),” from PIE *swoi-no-, from base *swe- "oneself, alone, apart" (see idiom). Cognate with O.E. swan "shepherd, swineherd," O.S. swen, O.H.G. swein. Meaning "country or farm laborer" is from 1579; that of "lover, wooer" (in pastoral poetry) is from 1585.

SWAK --- acronym for sealed with a kiss, attested from 1918; first ref. is to soldiers' letters home in World War I.

swale --- low, hollow place, often boggy, 1584, special use of Scottish swaill "low, hollow place," or dialectal East Anglian swale "shady place" (c.1440); both probably from O.N. svalr "cool," from P.Gmc. *swalaz.

swallow (n.) --- migratory bird (family Hirundinidae), O.E. swealwe, from P.Gmc. *swalwon (cf. O.S., O.N., O.Fris., Swed. svala, Dan. svale, M.Du. zwalewe, Du. zwaluw, O.H.G. swalawa, Ger. Schwalbe), from PIE *swol-wi- (cf. Rus. solowej, Slovak slavik, Pol. slowik "nightinggale"). The etymological sense is disputed. Popularly regarded as a harbinger of summer; swallows building nests on or near a house is considered good luck. First record of swallow-tail is 1545, of a type of arrowhead; of a type of coat, 1835.

swallow (v.) --- take in through the throat, O.E. swelgan (class III strong verb; past tense swealg, pp. swolgen), from P.Gmc. *swelkh-/*swelg- (cf. O.S. farswelgan, O.N. svelgja "to swallow," M.Du. swelghen, Du. zwelgen "to gulp, swallow," O.H.G. swelahan "to swallow," Ger. schwelgan "to revel"). Connections outside Gmc. uncertain. Sense of "consume, destroy" is attested from c.1340. Cognate with O.N. svelgr "whirlpool," lit. "devourer, swallower." Meaning "to accept without question" is from 1591. The noun meaning "an act of swallowing" is recorded from 1822.

swami --- 1773, " an idol," later, "religious teacher" (1901), from Hindi swami "master" (used as a term of address to a Brahmin), from Skt. svami (gen. svaminas) "lord, master," from sva-s "one's own" (cognate with L. sui; see idiom) + amah "pressure, vehemence."

swamp --- 1624 (first used by Capt. John Smith, in reference to Virginia), perhaps a dial. survival from an O.E. cognate of O.N. svoppr "sponge, fungus," from P.Gmc. *swampuz; but traditionally connected with M.E. sompe "morass, swamp," probably from M.Du. somp or M.L.G. sump "swamp." Related to O.N. svöppr "sponge." The verb sense of "overwhelm, sink (as if in a swamp)" is first recorded 1772; fig. sense is from 1818. Swamp Yankee "rural, rustic New Englander" is attested from 1941.

swan --- O.E. swan, from P.Gmc. *swanaz (cf. O.S. swan, O.N. svanr, M.Du. swane, Du. zwaan, O.H.G. swan, Ger. Schwan), probably lit. "the singing bird," from PIE base *swon-/*swen- "to sing, make sound" (see sound (n.1)); thus related to O.E. geswin "melody, song" and swinsian "to make melody." In classical mythology, sacred to Apollo and to Venus. The singing of swans before death was alluded to by Chaucer (c.1374), but swan-song (1831) is a translation of Ger. Schwanengesang. A black swan was proverbial for "something extremely rare or non-existent" (1398), after Juvenal ["Sat." vi. 164]. Swan dive is recorded from 1898.

swank --- 1809, "to strut" (swanky, n., "attractive young fellow" is recorded from 1508), perhaps related to M.H.G. swanken "to sway, totter," and O.H.G. swingan "to swing." Said to have been a Midlands and southwestern England dialectal word. The noun meaning "ostentatious behavior" is recorded from 1854; adj. sense of "stylish, classy, posh" is from 1913. Swanky is attested from 1842.

swap --- c.1300, "to strike, strike the hands together," possibly imitative of the sound of hitting. The sense of "exchange, barter, trade" is first recorded 1594, possibly from the practice of slapping hands together as a sign of agreement in bargaining. The noun in this sense is attested from 1625.

sward --- grass-covered ground, O.E. sweard "skin, rind" (of bacon, etc.), from P.Gmc. *swarthu- (cf. O.Fris. swarde "skin of the head," M.Du. swarde "rind of bacon," Ger. Schwarte "thick, hard skin, rind," O.N. svörðr "walrus hide"). Meaning "sod, turf" developed c.1300, on notion of the "skin" of the earth (cf. O.N. grassvörðr, Dan. grønsvær "greensward").

swarm (n.) --- cloud of bees or other insects, O.E. swearm, from P.Gmc. *swarmaz (cf. O.S., M.L.G. swarm, Swed. svärm, M.Du. swerm, O.H.G. swarm, Ger. Schwarm "swarm;" O.N. svarmr "tumult"), usually derived from PIE imitative base *swer- (see susurration) on notion of humming sound. But OED suggests possible connection with base of swerve and ground sense of "agitated, confused, or deflected motion." The verb meaning "to leave a hive to start another" is first recorded c.1380, from the noun.

swarm (v.) --- to climb by clasping with the arms and legs alternately, 1550, perhaps originally a sailors' word, of uncertain origin. Also recorded as swarve (16c.) and in Northern dialects swarble, swarmle.

swart --- O.E. sweart "black," from P.Gmc. *swartaz (cf. O.Fris., M.Du. swart, O.N. svartr, Ger. schwarz, Goth. swarts "dark-colored, black"), from PIE base *swordo- "dirty, dark, black" (source of sordid). The true Gmc. word for "black," surviving in the Continental languages.

swarthy --- 1581, unexplained alteration of swarty (1572), from swart.

swash --- 1538, "the fall of a heavy body or blow," possibly from wash with an intensifying s-. It also meant "pig-wash, filth, wet refuse" (1528) and may have been imitative of the sound of water dashing against solid objects. The meaning "a body of splashing water" is first found 1671; that of "a dashing or splashing" 1847.

swashbuckler --- 1560, "blustering, swaggering fighting man" (earlier simply swash, 1549), from swash "fall of a blow" (see swash) + buckler "shield." The original sense seems to have been "one who makes menacing noises by striking his or an opponent's shield." Swashbuckling (adj.) is attested from 1693.

swastika --- Greek cross with arms bent at right angles, 1871 (later specifically as emblem of the Nazi party, 1932), from Skt. svastika-s, lit. "being fortunate," from svasti-s "well-being, luck," from su- "well" + as-, root of asti "(he) is," from root of L. esse "to be" (see essence). Also known as gammadion and fylfot. Originally an ancient cosmic or religious symbol thought to bring good luck. Use in reference to the Nazi emblem first recorded in Eng. in 1932. The Ger. word was Hakenkreuz, lit. "hook-cross."

swat (v.) --- 1796, Amer.Eng. and northern England dialect word, possibly an alteration of M.E. swap "to strike, smite" (see swap), ultimately of imitative origin. The noun is recorded from 1800. Swatter "instrument for swatting flies" is recorded from 1917.

swatch --- 1512, "the countercheck of a tally" (Northumberland dialect), later "a tally attached to cloth sent to be dyed" (1612, in Yorkshire), of unknown origin. Meaning "a sample piece of cloth" is from 1647.

swath --- O.E. swæð, swaðu "track, trace, band," from P.Gmc. *swathan, *swatho (cf. O.Fris. swethe "boundary made by a scythe," M.Du. swade, Ger. Schwad "a row of cut grass"); ulterior connections uncertain. Meaning "space covered by the single cut of a scythe" emerged c.1475, and that of "strip, lengthwise extent" is from c.1605.

swathe --- O.E. swaþian "to swathe," from swaðu "track, trace, band" (see swath). The noun meaning "infant's swaddling bands" was found in O.E. as swaþum (dative plural).

sway --- c.1300, "to go, glide, move," probably from O.N. sveigja "to bend, swing, give way," from P.Gmc. *swaigijanan and related to swag (v.) and swing. The sense of "swing, wave, waver" is first recorded c.1500. The noun meaning "controlling influence" (to be under the sway of) is 1510, from a transitive sense of the verb in Du. and other languages. The verb in this sense is recorded in Eng. from 1593.

swear --- O.E. swerian "take an oath" (class VI strong verb; past tense swor, pp. sworen), from P.Gmc. *swarjanan, from root *swar- (cf. O.S. swerian, O.N. sverja, Dan. sverge, O.Fris. swera, M.Du. swaren, O.H.G. swerien, Ger. schwören, Goth. swaren "to swear"), from PIE base *swer- "to speak, say" (cf. O.C.S. svara "quarrel"). Also related to the second element in answer. The secondary sense of "use bad language" (c.1430) developed from the notion of "invoke sacred names." Swear-word is Amer.Eng. colloquial from 1883. Swear off "desist as with a vow" is from 1898.

sweat (v.) --- O.E. swætan "perspire, work hard." The noun is from O.E. swat "sweat" (which became M.E. swote, but altered under the influence of the verb), from P.Gmc. *swaita (cf. O.S., O.Fris. swet, O.N. sveiti, Dan. sved "sweat," Swed. svett, M.Du. sweet, Du. zweet, O.H.G. sweiz, Ger. Schweiß), from PIE *sweid-/*swoid- (cf. Skt. svedah "sweat," Avestan xvaeda- "sweat," Gk. hidros "sweat, perspiration," L. sudor, Lett. swiedri, Welsh chwys "sweat"). Meaning "to be worried, vexed" is recorded from c.1400. Sweatshirt first recorded 1929; sweatpants is from 1957. Sweat equity is from 1968.

sweater --- woolen vest or jersey, originally worn in rowing, 1882, from earlier sweaters "clothing worn to produce sweating and reduce weight" (1828), from sweat (v.). As a fashion garment, attested from 1925. Sweater girl is attested from 1940; Lana Turner (1920-95) was the first, from her appearance in the film "They Won't Forget" (1937).

Swede --- 1614, from Low Ger., from M.L.G. Swede, back-formed from a source akin to O.E. Sweoðeod, lit. "Swede-people," from Sweon (pl.) "Swedes" (O.N., O.Swed. Sviar, L. Suiones). Sweden (1603) is from M.Du. Sweden, probably a dat. pl. of Swede (earlier in Eng. Sweden was used of the people and Swedeland of the country). In O.E., the country was Sweoland or Sweorice (cf. O.N. sviariki, source of Swed. Sverige). The present Eng. form of the country name emerged 16c. in Scot. (Swethin, Swadne, etc.). Swedish is recorded from 1632.

Swedenborgian --- 1791, for Emanuel Svedberg, Swedish mystic and religious philosopher (1668-1772). His followers organized 1788 as The New Church.

sweep (v.) --- c.1300, perhaps from a past tense form of M.E. swope "sweep," from O.E. swapan "to sweep" (transitive & intransitive); see swoop. The noun meaning "range, extent" is attested from 1679; in ref. to police or military actions, it is attested from 1837. Sense of "a winning of all the tricks in a card game" is from 1814 (see sweepstakes); extended to other sports by 1960. As a shortened form of chimney-sweeper, first attested 1812.

sweepstakes --- prize won in a race or contest, 1773, from M.E. swepestake "one who sweeps or wins all the stakes in a game" (1495, as the name of one of the King's ships), from swepen "sweep" + stake (v).

sweet (adj.) --- O.E. swete "pleasing to the senses, mind or feelings," from P.Gmc. *swotijaz (cf. O.S. swoti, Swed. söt, Dan. sød, M.Du. soete, Du. zoet, O.H.G. swuozi, Ger. süß), from PIE base *swad- (Skt. svadus "sweet;" Gk. hedys "sweet, pleasant, agreeable," hedone "pleasure;" L. suavis "sweet," suadere "to advise," prop. "to make something pleasant to"). Sweetbread "pancreas used as food" is from 1565 (the -bread element may be from O.E. bræd "flesh"). To be sweet on someone is first recorded 1694. Sweet-talk (v.) dates from 1936 (in "Gone With the Wind"). Sweet sixteen first recorded 1826. Sweet dreams as a parting to one going to sleep is attested from 1908. Sweet and sour in cooking is from 1723, not originally of oriental food.

sweet (n.) --- c.1300, "something sweet to the taste," also "beloved one," from sweet (adj.); the meaning "candy drop" is 1851 (earlier sweetie, 1721).

Sweet Adeline --- female barbershop singing group, 1947, from the name of a popular close harmony song by Armstrong & Gerard, prop. "You're the Flower of my Heart, Sweet Adeline" (1903).

sweet tooth --- fondness for sugary stuff, 1390, from sweet (adj.) + tooth in the sense of "taste, liking" (see toothsome under tooth).

sweeten --- 1552, from sweet (adj.) + verbal ending -en. The M.E. form of the verb was simply sweet, from O.E. swetan.

sweetheart --- c.1290 as a form of address, 1576 as a synonym for "loved one;" from sweet (adj.) + heart. As an adj., with ref. to labor contracts, it is attested from 1959.

swell (n.) --- c.1225, "a morbid swelling," from swell (v.). In ref. to a rise of the sea, it is attested from 1606. The meaning "wealthy, elegant person" is first recorded 1786; hence the adj. meaning "fashionably dressed or equipped" (1810), both from the notion of "puffed-up, pompous" behavior. The sense of "good, excellent" first occurs 1897, and as a stand-alone expression of satisfaction it is recorded from 1930 in Amer.Eng.

swell (v.) --- O.E. swellan "grow or make bigger" (past tense sweall, pp. swollen), from P.Gmc. *swelnanan (cf. O.S. swellan, O.N. svella, O.Fris. swella, M.Du. swellen, Du. zwellen, O.H.G. swellan, Ger. schwellen), of unknown origin.

swelter --- c.1403, frequentative of swelten "be faint (especially with heat)," c.1386, from O.E. sweltan "to die," from P.Gmc. *swel- (cf. O.S. sweltan "to die," O.N. svelta "to put to death, starve," Goth. sviltan "to die"), originally "to burn slowly," hence "to be overcome with heat or fever;" also the source of O.E. swelan "to burn," from PIE base *swel- "to shine, burn" (see Selene). For specialization of words meaning "to die," cf. starve.

swerve --- c.1225, "to depart, make off;" c.1330, "to turn aside, deviate from a straight course," probably from O.E. sweorfan "to rub, scour, file" (but sense development is difficult to trace), from P.Gmc. *swerbanan (cf O.N. sverfa "to scour, file," O.S. swebran "to wipe off"), from PIE base *swerbh-. Cognate words in other Gmc. languages (cf. O.Fris. swerva "to creep," M.Du. swerven "to rove, stray") suggests the sense of "go off, turn aside" may have existed in O.E., though unrecorded. The noun is recorded from 1741.

swift (adj.) --- O.E. swift "moving quickly," related to swifan "move in a course, sweep" (see swivel). The bird (several species of the family Cypselidæ, resembling swallows), noted for its "swift" flight, was so called from at least 1668. Regarded as a bird of ill-omen, if not downright demonic, probably for its shrill cry. The name earlier had been given to several small fast lizards (1530).

swig --- 1548, "drink, liquor," later "big or hearty drink of liquor" (1621), of unknown origin. The verb is first attested 1654.

swill (v.) --- O.E. swilian, swillan "to wash, gargle," with no certain cognates, but probably from P.Gmc. *sweljanan, related to the root of swallow (v.). Meaning "drink greedily" is from c.1530; the noun sense of "liquid kitchen refuse fed to pigs" is 1553, from the verb.

swim (n.) --- 1547, "the clear part of any liquid" (above the sediment), from swim (v.). Meaning "part of a river or stream frequented by fish" (and hence fishermen) is from 1828, and is probably the source of the fig. meaning "the current of the latest affairs or events" (1869).

swim (v.) --- O.E. swimman "to move in or on the water, float" (class III strong verb; past tense swamm, pp. swummen), from P.Gmc. *swemjanan (cf. O.S., O.H.G. swimman, O.N. svimma, Du. zwemmen, Ger. schwimmen), from PIE base *swem- "to be in motion," sometimes said to be restricted to Gmc., but possible cognates are Welsh chwyf "motion," O.Ir. do-sennaim "I hunt," Lith. sundyti "to chase." For the usual IE word, see natatorium. Sense of "reel or move unsteadily" first recorded 1678; of the head or brain, from 1702. Swimsuit first recorded 1934; swimming hole is from 1867; swimming pool is from 1899. Fig. phrase sink or swim is attested from c.1440, often with ref. to ordeals of suspected witches.

swindler --- 1774, from Ger. Schwindler "giddy person, extravagant speculator, cheat," from schwindeln "to be giddy, act extravagantly, swindle," from O.H.G. swintilon "be giddy," frequentative form of swintan "to languish, disappear;" cognate with O.E. swindan, and probably with swima "dizziness." Said to have been introduced in London by Ger. Jews c.1762. swindle is a back-formation attested from 1782 as a verb, 1833 as a noun.

swine --- O.E. swin "pig, hog," from P.Gmc. *swinan (cf. O.S., O.Fris. M.L.G., O.H.G. swin, M.Du. swijn, Du. zwijn, Ger. Schwein), neut. adj. (with suffix *-ino-) from PIE *su- (see sow (n.)). The native word, largely ousted by pig. Applied to persons from c.1380. Swineherd is recorded from c.1100 as swynhyrde; swinish is from c.1200. Phrase pearls before swine is from Matt. vii.6; an early Eng. formation of it was:

swing (v.) --- O.E. swingan "to rush, fling oneself," from P.Gmc. *swenganan (cf. O.S., O.H.G. swingan, O.Fris. swinga, Ger. schwingen "to swing, swingle, oscillate") denoting "violent circulatory motion." The meaning "move freely back and forth" is first recorded 1545. The noun meaning "a stroke with a weapon" is from 1375; sense of "an apparatus that swings" is first recorded 1687. Meaning "shift of public opinion" is from 1899. The meaning "variety of big dance-band music with a swinging rhythm" is first recorded 1933, though the sense has been traced back to 1888; its heyday was from mid-30s to mid-40s. Swinging "uninhibited" dates from 1958; and swinger "person who is lively in an unrestrained way" is from 1965. Both had various other slang senses traceable to 1590s. Swing shift first recorded 1941, typically 4 p.m. to midnight. Phrase in full swing "in total effect or operation" (1570) is probably from bell-ringing.

swingle --- instrument for beating flax, c.1325, from M.Du. swinghel "swingle for flax," cognate with O.E. swingel "beating, stick to beat," from swingan "to beat, strike, whip" (see swing) + instrumental suffix -le. Or perhaps directly from the O.E. word, with narrowing of sense.

swipe (n.) --- 1807, "a driving stroke made with the arms in full swing," perhaps a dialectal variant of sweep, or in part from obsolete swip "a stroke, blow" (c.1205), from P.Gmc. *swip-, related to O.E. swipu "a stick, whip." Other possible sources or influences are M.E. swope "to sweep with broad movements" (in ref. to brooms, swords, etc.), from O.E. swapan; obsolete swaip "stroke, blow;" or obsolete swape "oar, pole." The verb is from 1825. The slang sense of "steal, pilfer" appeared 1889, Amer.Eng., said originally to be theatrical jargon for performers stealing jokes or stage routines from one another. Meaning "run a credit card" is 1990s.

swirl (n.) --- c.1425, "whirlpool, eddy," originally Scottish, perhaps related to dialectal Norw. svirla or Du. zwirrelen "to whirl." The meaning "whirling movement" is from 1818. The verb is attested from 1513, with an isolated instance from 14c.

swish (v.) --- 1756, probably imitative of the sound made by something brushing against or through something. The noun is from 1820; sense of "effeminate homosexual" is 1930s in homosexual slang, probably from notion of mincing motion.