smash English · revision 7770

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=c. 1700}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /smæʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably imitative,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) compare [[smack]], [[mash]], [[crash]] and [[clash]];^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) MWU suggests a blend of smack and mash.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To kick downstairs: about 1700, before 1700 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a hard blow, is from 1725.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) To break to pieces is from 1759 in Etymonline, 1764 in MWU and 1778 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) Mashed turnips is an obsolete slang sense of 1785.^(OED 1989) A broken-up condition is from 1798, and the sound of smashing first appears in Jamieson's Scots dictionary (1808).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) To act with crushing force is from 1813, and to strike violently from 1835.^(Etymonline) A commercial failure is from 1839.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In tennis, a hard overhand stroke is from 1882.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A great success is from 1923, a ''smash hit'', shortened to smash by 1930.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Smash-and-grab'' is from 1927.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1700 – to kick downstairs.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1725 – a hard blow.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1778 – to shatter.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1839 – a bankruptcy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1882 – in tennis.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1923 – smash hit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To break into pieces violently and noisily; to [[shatter]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To throw or crash against something with force.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To hit hard; in tennis, to hit the ball with a forceful overhand stroke.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To defeat or destroy completely.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or sound of smashing.^(AHD)

+ # A collision or crash.^(AHD)

+ # A hard overhand stroke in tennis or badminton.^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(informal)'' A great success; a [[smash hit]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[smasher]]

+ * [[smashable]]

+ * [[smush]]

+ * [[smashed]]

+ * [[smashing]]

+ * [[smash hit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[smack]]

+ * [[mash]]

+ * [[crash]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}