1796, American English and northern England dialect word, possibly an alteration of Middle English swap "to strike, smite" (see swap), ultimately of imitative origin. Related: Swatted; swatting. The noun is recorded from 1800.
swash
swashbuckle
swashbuckler
swashbuckling
swastika
swat
swatch
swath
swathe
swatter
sway