Mash
Old English māsc (as a brewing term), of West Germanic origin; perhaps ultimately related to mix.
wiktionary
From Middle English mash, from Old English mǣsċ-, māsċ-, māx-, from Proto-Germanic *maiskaz, *maiskō(“mixture, mash”), from Proto-Indo-European *meyǵ-, *meyḱ-(“to mix”). Akin to German Meisch, Maische(“mash”), (compare meischen, maischen(“to mash, wash”)), Swedish mäsk(“mash”), and to Old English miscian(“to mix”). See mix.
From Middle English mashen, maschen, meshen, from Old English *māsċan, *mǣsċan, from Proto-Germanic *maiskijaną. Cognate with German maischen. Compare also Middle Low German meskewert, mēschewert(“beerwort”).
See mesh.
Either [1] [2] by analogy with [3] mash(“to press, to soften”), or more likely from [4]Romani masha(“a fascinator, an enticer”), mashdva(“fascination, enticement”). Originally used in theater, [5] and recorded in US in 1870s. Either originally used as mash, or a backformation from masher, from masha. Leland writes of the etymology: [6]
Mostly clipping of machine gun, but also for imitative reasons, compare the gun-names mop and broom; intentionally chosen around 2000 due to its homonymy and obscurity for legal reasons.
etymonline
mash (n.)
"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; general sense of "anything reduced to a soft pulpy consistency" is recorded from 1590s, as is the figurative sense "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.). Meaning "to beat into a soft mass" is mid-13c. Related: Mashed; mashing. For romantic sense, see masher.
