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Origin and history of mash

mash(n.1)

"soft mixture, mass of ingredients beaten or stirred together," late Old English *masc (in masc-wyrt "mash-wort, infused malt"), from Proto-Germanic *maisk- (source also of Swedish mäsk "grains for pigs," German Maisch "crushed grapes, infused malt," Old English meox "dung, filth"), possibly from PIE root *meik- "to mix."

Originally a word in brewing; the general sense of "anything reduced to a soft pulpy consistency" is recorded from 1590s, as is the figurative sense of "confused mixture, muddle." Short for mashed potatoes it is attested from 1904.

mash(v.)

Old English mæscan, "to mix with hot water," from the same root as mash (n.1).

The meaning "to beat into a soft mass" is mid-13c. Related: Mashed; mashing. Mashed potatoes is by 1747. For aggressive-romantic sense, see mash (n.2), masher.

mash(n.2)

"romantic fixation; a crush," by 1882, said to have originated as a showbiz term; whence also mash note, "fan letter; love letter" (by 1890), mash (v.) "excite sentimental admiration" (1882).

Leland in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon and Cant (1890) derives it from the Romany word masher-ava, "allure" and claims it to have originated with a 19th century family of Romany actors. See also masher.

also from 1882

Entries linking to mash

masher(n.)

c. 1500, "thing that mashes," agent noun from mash (v.). The meaning "would-be lady-killer, one whose dress or manners are such as to impress strongly the fancy of susceptible young women" is by 1875, American English, perhaps by 1860, probably from mash (v.) on the notion either of "pressing one's attentions" or "crushing someone else's emotions."

Compare crush (n.) and see mash (n.2) for more.

He was, to use a Western expression, a 'regular heart-smasher among the women;' and it may not be improper to state, just here, that no one had a more exalted opinion of his capabilities in that line than the aforesaid 'Jo' himself. [Harper's New Monthly Magazine, March 1861]

He had a weakness to be considered a regular masher of female hearts and a very wicked young man with the fair sex generally, but there was not a well-authenticated instance of his ever having broken a heart in his life, nor likely to be one. [Gilbert A. Pierce, "Zachariah, The Congressman," Chicago, 1880]

mishmash(n.)

also mish-mash, late 15c., mysse-masche, probably an imitative reduplication of mash (n.). Compare German mischmasch, Danish miskmask.