Meaning

noun a mixture of mashed malt grains and hot water; used in brewing

noun mixture of ground animal feeds

verb to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

originEither 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…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0