The word "swanking sticks" is spelled with the /sw/' sound at the beginning, followed by the /æ/ sound in "ank", and the /ŋk/ sound cluster in "k", all represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /swæŋkɪŋ stɪks/. The word refers to walking sticks or canes used to show off or impress others. Although the term is not commonly used in modern language, it can still be seen in old-fashioned literature or period films.