Splish

Part of speech: interjection, verb

Definitions

1. The short, sharp sound made by something lightly striking or moving through water
2. A brief onomatopoeic noise imitating a small splash of liquid, often used in children's play
3. Describing the quick, light noise produced when a body or object dips or lands in water

Etymology: "Splish" is an onomatopoeic word, meaning it was formed to imitate the sound it names. Its sound pattern sets it apart from its relatives. It belongs to a family that includes "splash" and "splosh," and the shape of the word carries the meaning: the sharp "sp" opening suggests a quick burst of water, while the short "-ish" ending gives a lighter, smaller sound than the heavier "splosh." The word works as both an interjection and a verb. As an interjection, it marks the moment of a small splash, as in a child's cry of "splish!" in the bath. As a verb, it describes the act of making that light sound, so someone might splish through shallow puddles. Because the word was built directly from the sound, its form tells you what it means without needing any older root to explain it.

Synonyms: splash, plash