swazz

English

Alternative forms

• swaz

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Compare phonestheme sw- in e.g. sway, sweep, swerve, swoop.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swæz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æz

Noun

swazz (uncountable)

1. (informal, sports) curl or spin added when striking a ball hard
   • 2011 October 30, Evan Fanning, "Tottenham Hotspur v QPR - as it happened" The Guardian

     The Croatian controls on his chest before hitting a left-footed volley which swerves and moves in the air but ultimately drifts wide of the far post. "It didn't have quite enough swazz on it," says Wilkins. I believe that's a technical term.

   • 2022 December 24, Michael Lee, "Reassessing the December 2006 GOTM contenders from great to best" Planet Football

     [W]e considered Essien’s strike against Arsenal to be the best of a ridiculously good bunch. Firstly, consider the context. [...] Then, the finish itself. Hit with genuine venom and an outside-of-the-boot swazz that would make Roberto Carlos blush.

   • 2023 November 27, James Whaling "John McGinn vs Sheffield Wednesday, 2018" in Mark Jones "Alejandro Garnacho stunned Goodison Park on Sunday with his remarkable overhead kick, but what is the best goal you've ever seen live?" Daily Mirror (London)

     I think what separates this goal from other volleys I have witnessed ... is the swazz, as the kids say. The ball started so far outside the left post, it had no right to curl back in to that degree and end up in the back, or roof, of the net.

Verb

swazz (third-person singular simple present swazzes, present participle swazzing, simple past and past participle swazzed)

1. (informal, sports) to play [the ball] with swazz
   • 2019 January 26, Tom Dutton, "Osaka 7-6 5-7 4-3 Kvitova" The Evening Standard (London)

     Kvitova sends her wide on the second serve to save the first and then coolly swazzes a forehand down the line.

Derived terms

• swazzy