Swash

Swash

Swash (uprush and backwash), in geography, is the water that washes up on shore after an incoming wave has broken. This action will cause sand and other light particles to be transported up the beach. The direction of the swash varies with the prevailing wind, whereas the backwash is always perpendicular to the coastline. This may cause longshore drift.

Backwash current

Backwash current is a seaward current that results from the receding swash on the beach face, after a wave breaks, joins the seaward movement of the wave trough toward the next incoming crest. The same orbital wave movement that causes a ball to bob up and down on the water causes the trough to move back and up toward the next wave crest. This is not what the word "undertow" suggests, and this term should not be used.

ee also

*Rip current
*Swashbuckler


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  • swash — swash·buck·le; swash·buck·ler; swash·buck·ler·ing; swash·buck·ling; swash; swash·er; …   English syllables

  • Swash — Swash, n. [Cf. {Swash}, v. i., {Squash}, v. t.] (Arch.) An oval figure, whose moldings are oblique to the axis of the work. Moxon. [1913 Webster] {Swash plate} (Mach.), a revolving circular plate, set obliquely on its shaft, and acting as a cam… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swash — Swash, a. [Cf. {Swash}, v. i., {Squash}, v. t.] Soft, like fruit too ripe; swashy. [Prov. Eng.] Pegge. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swash|y — «SWOSH ee, SWSH », adjective, swash|i|er, swash|i|est. soft and watery; splashy: »Bulldozers cleared the course in fine style for the reopening last Friday, but…the footing was still a little swashy (New Yorker) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Swash — Swash, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Swashed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Swashing}.] [Probably of imitative origin; cf. Sw. svasska to splash, and, for sense 3, Sw. svassa to bully, to rodomontade.] 1. To dash or flow noisily, as water; to splash; as, water… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swash — Swash, n. 1. Impulse of water flowing with violence; a dashing or splashing of water. [1913 Webster] 2. A narrow sound or channel of water lying within a sand bank, or between a sand bank and the shore, or a bar over which the sea washes. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swash — [swäsh, swôsh] vi. [echoic] 1. to dash, strike, wash, etc. with a splashing sound; splash 2. to swagger or bluster vt. to splash (a liquid), as in a container n. 1. a body of swift, dashing water; specif., a channel cutting through or behind a… …   English World dictionary

  • swash — 1530s, the fall of a heavy body or blow, possibly from WASH (Cf. wash) with an intensifying s . It also meant pig wash, filth, wet refuse (1520s) and may have been imitative of the sound of water dashing against solid objects. The meaning a body… …   Etymology dictionary

  • swash|er — «SWOSH uhr, SWSH », noun. = swashbuckler. (Cf. ↑swashbuckler) …   Useful english dictionary

  • swash — /swosh, swawsh/, v.i. 1. to splash, as things in water, or as water does: Waves were swashing against the piers. 2. to dash around, as things in violent motion. 3. to swagger. v.t. 4. to dash or cast violently, esp. to dash (water or other… …   Universalium

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