Swish is a US English slang term for effeminate behavior and interests[1][2] (camp), emphasized and sanctioned in gay male communities prior to the Stonewall riots.
[8][9] According to Martin Levine and Michael Kimmel in Gay Macho: The Life and Death of the Homosexual Clone: Extravagant language is common.
In describing ordinary experiences the male variant is likely to use words as "terrific," "amazing," "completely devoted," "horrible," "tremendous," "sublimely," "charming," "appalling," "vicious," "loathed," and "madly."
Exaggerations are made more conspicuous by placing undue or erroneous emphasis on certain syllables and intonations which leave little doubt of the effeminacy of the speaker.
However, the Castro clone, a hyper-masculine, macho standard and ideal behaviour that replaced swish, adapted many camp elements such as dishing (gossip).