Swishes gay
Green’s Dictionary of Slang
swishn.
1. (orig. US, alsoswisher, swishy) by meton., a homosexual guy [swish v.1 (2)].
W. WinchellOn Broadway 19 Jan. [synd. col.] ‘Oh,’ oh’d the chum, ‘don’t be silleh. Everyone knew Oscar [Wilde] was a swish!’. | ||
H.A. SmithLife in a Putty Knife Factory (1948) 16: As far as I know my friends own not yet started whispering it around that I am a swish. | ||
N. AlgrenMan with the Golden Arm 44: I seen Nifty Louie steerin’ some ancient swish in there. | ||
Lait & MortimerUSA Confidential 42–3: The same rock bottom factors that are responsible for the wave of swishes accounts for the epidemic of homosexuality among the maidens, though in reverse. | ||
Jet 26 Dec. 47: Harlem plainsclothes men detailed to patrol a 125th St. bar and grill, which is city-wide headquarters for the limp wrist establish . When propositioned by swishers [...] cops haul them off to the nearest station house. | ||
W. BurroughsNaked Lunch (1968) 82: I’m no dress designer swish from the costume department! | ||
J. OsborneWorld of Paul Slickey Perform I: He’s contrary, he’s a swishy. | ||
Dundes & Schonhorn ‘Kansas University Sl.: A New Generation’ in AS XX Throughout history, words possess been used to discriminate, pigeon-hole, or otherwise keep groups of people “in their place” in society. To that end, groups that have been the target of brutal name-calling often reclaim insulting language as a way to self-identify and strengthen themselves as an individual, or as a member of a larger community. Reclamatory language, as it is referred to, is language with pejorative connotations that people with marginalized identities use to identify themselves. Language which has been used as an insult, and which is still used as an insult today, can be reclaimed through the use of reclamatory language. However, there are some words, like the “n”, “f”, and “c” words, for instance, that many people believe to be too far beyond reclaiming for anyone to use in an empowering manner. “Swish” is an example of this phenomenon; and of how a group of like-minded individuals were determined to develop a positive movement to further the rights of LGBT people through reclaiming an often insulting slang word used to describe “effeminate” men. The miniature group of friends has evolved into Definitions from Wiktionary (swish) ▸ adjective: (British, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth. ▸ adjective: Attractive, stylish ▸ adjective: Effeminate. ▸ noun: A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction. ▸ noun: A hissing, sweeping movement through the air, as of an animal's tail. ▸ noun: A sound of liquid flowing inside a container. ▸ noun: A twig or bundle of twigs, used for administering beatings; a switch ▸ noun: (basketball) A achieving basketball shot that does not contact the rim or backboard. ▸ noun: (cricket) A rapid or negligent attacking stroke by the batter. ▸ noun: (slang) An effeminate male homosexual. ▸ noun: (slang, uncountable) Effeminacy, effeminate or homosexual demeanor. ▸ noun: (uncountable, Canada, prison slang) An improvised alcoholic drink made by fermenting whatever ingredients are available. ▸ verb: To make a rustling sound while moving. The word is in the Wiktionary21 short excerpts of Wiktionnary (A collaborative proposal to produce a free-content dictionary.)— English words —
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