swat
swat Lexical Profile
swat Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To hit or slap something with a quick, sharp blow, especially using a flat object or the open hand.
"She used a rolled-up magazine to swat the fly that had been buzzing around the kitchen."
North American To make a malicious and false report to emergency services in order to dispatch a heavily armed police tactical unit to a target's location.
"The online gamer was horrified when a rival attempted to swat him by calling in a fake hostage situation."
• noun
A sharp, quick blow or slap, typically delivered with a flat object or the open hand.
"He gave the mosquito a quick swat before it could bite him."
• Rhymes for swat
Word Origin & Etymology
Originated in the early 17th century as a Northern English dialect variant of 'swap' (to strike) or 'squat' (to squash).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.