The
origin of this strange label does not involve any buckled swashes. Historically, the word "swash" was used as a verb meaning "to make a
sound by
striking two swords together, or by striking a shield with a
sword." A
buckler is a small, round
shield, generally made of leather and sometimes reinforced with some kind of metal.
So, anybody who goes around swashing their buckler is probably looking for a little action, adventure, and possibly even ribaldry! Oooohhh!
Famous fictional swashbucklers include Robin Hood, Zorro, and The Three Musketeers.
If they ever come up with a swashbuckling school, I think one of the courses should be Laughing, Then Jumping Off Something.
---Jack Handey