Link Centre Dictionary

mash

UK/mæʃ/ US/maʃ/ fairly common informal slang uk
verb (3) noun (2)

verb

1.

to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

  • “crush an aluminum can”
  • “squeeze a lemon”
Synonyms
2.

talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions

  • “The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries”
  • “My husband never flirts with other women”
Synonyms
3.

reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading

  • “grind the spices in a mortar”
  • “mash the garlic”
Synonyms

noun

1.

a mixture of mashed malt grains and hot water; used in brewing

2.

mixture of ground animal feeds

Origin

Either by analogy with mash (“to press, to soften”), or more likely from Romani masha (“a fascinator, an enticer”), mashdva (“fascination, enticement”). Originally used in theater, and recorded in US in 1870s. Either originally used as mash, or a backformation from masher, from masha. Leland writes of the etymology: : It was introduced by the well-known gypsy family of actors, C., among whom Romany was habitually spoken. The word “masher” or “mash” means in that tongue to allure, delude, or entice. It was doubtless much aided in its popularity by its quasi-identity with the English word. But there can be no doubt as to the gypsy origin of “mash” as used on the stage. I am indebted for this information to the late well-known impresario [Albert Marshall] Palmer of New York, and I made a note of it years before the term had become at all popular.

Phrases

  • bangers and mash
  • button mash
  • instant mash
  • mash bean
  • mash it up
  • mash note
  • mash tun
  • mash up
  • mash vatmishmash
  • mashed potato
  • mashed potatoes
  • monster mash

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.