mash

¹

[ mash ]

verb (used with object)

1. to crush:

   He mashed his thumb with a hammer.

2. to reduce to a soft, pulpy mass, as by beating or pressure, especially in the preparation of food.
3. to mix (crushed malt or meal of grain) with hot water to form wort.

noun

1. a soft, pulpy mass.
2. a pulpy condition.
3. a mixture of boiled grain, bran, meal, etc., fed warm to horses and cattle.
4. crushed malt or meal of grain mixed with hot water to form wort.
5. British Slang. mashed potatoes.

mash

²

[ mash ]

noun

1. a flirtation or infatuation.
2. a person who seeks another's affection or who is the object of affection.

verb (used with object)

1. to flirt with; court the affections of.

MASH

³

[ mash ]

noun

1. mobile army surgical hospital.

MASH

¹

/ mæʃ /

acronym for

1. Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

mash

²

/ mæʃ /

noun

1. a soft pulpy mass or consistency
2. agriculture a feed of bran, meal, or malt mixed with water and fed to horses, cattle, or poultry
3. (esp in brewing) a mixture of mashed malt grains and hot water, from which malt is extracted
4. informal.
   mashed potatoes
5. dialect.
   a brew of tea

verb

1. to beat or crush into a mash
2. to steep (malt grains) in hot water in order to extract malt, esp for making malt liquors
3. dialect.
   to brew (tea)
4. archaic.
   to flirt with

Derived Forms

• mashed, adjective
• ˈmasher, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mash¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English mash- and Old English mǣsc-, noun used in compounds, as in Middle English mashfat and Old English mǣscfat “mash-vat,” and mǣscwyrt “mash wort”; cognate with German Maische

Origin of mash²

First recorded in 1870–75; originally theatrical argot; further origin uncertain; flirt ( def ), sweetheart, lover

Word History and Origins

Origin of mash¹

Old English mǣsc- (in compound words); related to Middle Low German mēsch

Example Sentences

The Yankees mauled and mashed and manhandled the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, staving off a sweep with an 11-4 victory.

From Los Angeles Times

Andy Green, who founded the Modern Cockney Festival, said obtaining the status "may kickstart a fresh look from government agencies and public bodies to recognise the tradition and culture that pie 'n' mash represents".

From BBC

A human worker then adds ingredients and mashes the fruit into guacamole.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2022 alone, protesters threw black goo on a Klimt, mashed potatoes on a Monet, and cake at the Mona Lisa.

From Los Angeles Times

However, Mr Smith does not have such kind words for all of the UK's traditional dishes, saying pie, mash and liquor was the worst thing he had.

From BBC

Related Words

• chew
• crush
• grind
• scrunch
• squeeze
• squish