I. ˈskwäsh, ˈskwȯsh verb
Etymology: alteration of Middle English squachen to crush, annul, from Anglo-French esquacher, from Old French es- ex- + quachier to hide from view, from Vulgar Latin * coacticare to press together — more at cache
Date: 1565
transitive verb
1. : to press or beat into a pulp or a flat mass : crush
2. : put down , suppress
squash a revolt
intransitive verb
1. : to flatten out under pressure or impact
2. : to proceed with a splashing or squelching sound
squash through the mud
3. : squeeze , press
• squash·er noun
II. noun
Date: 1590
1. obsolete : something soft and easily crushed ; specifically : an unripe pod of peas
2. : the sudden fall of a heavy soft body or the sound of such a fall
3. : squelch 1
4. : a crushed mass
5. British : sweetened citrus fruit juice often served with added soda water
6. : a singles or doubles game played in a 4-wall court with a long-handled racket and a rubber ball that can be hit off any number of walls
III. adverb
Date: 1766
: with a squash or a squashing sound
IV. noun
( plural squash·es or squash )
Etymology: by shortening & alteration from earlier isquoutersquash, from Narragansett askútasquash
Date: 1634
: any of various fruits of plants (genus Cucurbita ) of the gourd family widely cultivated as vegetables ; also : a plant and especially a vine that bears squashes — compare summer squash , winter squash