Swat

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /swɒt/

Definitions

1. To hit or strike something with a quick, sharp motion ; an elite police group trained for high-risk operations
2. To deliver a swift, forceful blow usually with the hand or a flat object ; a tactical law enforcement team specialized in handling dangerous situations
3. To slap or smack suddenly with force ; a specialized unit of police officers equipped for critical and violent incidents

Etymology: The verb "swat" to hit something with a quick, sharp blow is an alteration of "squat," a word that once carried a sense of striking flat against a surface. The change from "squat" to "swat" is the sort of sound shift that gives a blow its snap: the short vowel and the crisp final "t" mimic the motion itself. Swatting a fly is, in that sense, a small piece of onomatopoeia dressed up as ordinary English. The police unit that shares the name is a different story. SWAT is an acronym for Special Weapons and Tactics, and the elite team it names is the source of the noun's second meaning. The verb and the acronym are unrelated in origin; the acronym was built to describe a unit, and the verb already existed, so the resemblance is a happy coincidence rather than a shared root.

Synonyms: hit, smack, slap, strike, bang

Antonyms: caress, pet, touch gently, soothe, pamper