What is "swashes"

Usage examples of "swashes".

There was a great rattle as he came in, for on his chest he wore crossed swashes of pismires, and on his back he carried a festoon and a double bladed ax.

Chips proved to have considerable artistic talent, giving the red-and-yellow, black-outlined letters wondrous swashes and curlicues.

He was wearing a full-length, bright green tribal costume, similar to a robe, on which were gold swashes and a collection of line drawings of no apparent meaning.

Peering between the swashes of soap, she could see an empty room with lighter squares on the dirty yellow walls where the washers had stood.