squash

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets

   I enjoy playing squash.

2. 2
   noun

   edible fruit of a squash plant

   The recipe called for squash.

3. 3
   noun

   any of numerous annual trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits

   We've planted squashes in the garden.

4. 4
   verb

   to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

   I managed to squash the sleeping bag in to its container.

5. 5
   noun

   a concentrated syrup, usually fruit-based, that is diluted to produce a drink

   We prepared a jug of lemon squash.

6. 6
   noun

   A sport played in a walled court with a soft rubber ball and bats like tennis racquets.

   She plays squash every Saturday.

7. 7
   noun

   A non-alcoholic drink made from a fruit-based concentrate diluted with water or milk.

   Sure. I pour hot squash all over myself and we all have a good chuckle. Everyone except Muggins here.

8. 8
   noun

   A place or a situation where people have limited space to move.

   It's a bit of a squash in this small room.

Etymology

From Middle English squachen, squatchen, from Old French esquacher, escachier, from Vulgar Latin *excoāctiāre, from Latin ex + coāctāre. Probably influenced by Middle English quashen, quassen, from Old French esquasser, escasser (“to crush, shatter, destroy, break”), from Vulgar Latin *exquassare, from Latin ex- + quassare (“to shatter”) (see quash).