[Imitative.] A soft sibilant sound, as that of something moving rapidly through the air or over the surface of water. Cf. SWISH sb.1 1.
1808. Jamieson, Whish, whush, a rushing or whizzing sound.
1850. Mayne Reid, Rifle Rangers, I. viii. 103. The ‘whish’ of a rocket attracted our attention.
1863. Marguerite A. Power, Arab. Days & Nts., 25. The noises on deck, and the whish of the water through which we were rapidly and quietly cutting our way.
1890. H. S. Hallett, 1000 Miles on Eleph. in Shan States, 453. The howls of these poor creatures, together with the whish of the cane, is heard through the city in the early hours of the morning.
