Moshes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Acts of violently pushing or slamming into others typically in a crowded dance area ; the energetic movements in live music shows involving physical contact and jumping; a plural form referring to multiple instances of such aggressive dancing or collisions
2. Physical expressions of rough, frenetic dancing where participants slam into one another ; instances of moving forcefully and erratically in a concert setting characterized by crowd surfing and pushing ; plural form indicating several occurrences of this vigorous, chaotic motion
3. The activities of violently colliding with others while dancing in a high-energy crowd environment ; moments during performances involving dynamic and aggressive body movements ; the plural noun describing repeated or multiple episodes of this intense, physical dancing style

Etymology: "Moshes" is the third-person singular present form of "mosh," so its history is that of the verb itself. The verb is generally thought to be a variant of "mash," the word for crushing something into a soft mass, and the link makes sense: a moshing crowd presses and collides until its members are squeezed together and jostled into one undifferentiated heap. Only the sense of crushing survives in the dancing; the original notion of a pulped mass has been transferred to people.

Synonyms: thrashes, bumps, sloshes, jumps, dances

Antonyms: stills, calms, rests, freezes, settles