mash

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A mess; trouble.

   For your vows and oaths, Or I doubt mainly, I shall be i' the mash " too

2. 2
   verb

   To convert into a mash; to reduce to a soft pulpy state by beating or pressure

   We had fun mashing apples in a mill.

3. 3
   verb

   To prepare a cup of tea in a teapot; to brew (tea).

   He took the kettle off the fire and mashed the tea.

4. 4
   verb

   To press down hard (on).

   to mash on a bicycle pedal

5. 5
   verb

   To flirt, to make eyes, to make romantic advances.

   “What's the yarn about your mashing a Miss Haverley up there? Not serious, I hope?”

6. 6
   noun

   A gun.

   This mash works but I don't know about yours […] Better hope your mash don't jam, bare ping ping like a BB […] I see a boy run with his mash, I see a boy run with his jooka […] Don't talk about mashes, we've lost about ten I know about cookers

7. 7
   noun

   Initialism of municipal, academic, schools and hospitals

   Don, who is now a member of the Kings Counsel, has been practicing law for over four decades. Focused on municipal law in the MASH sector, his law firm, Lidstone and Company – Barristers and Solicitors has evolved to include 26 lawyers, two articling students and 12 support staff.

8. 8
   verb

   to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

Etymology

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 t…