Mushes

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To become soft or pulpy, usually as a result of moisture or heat; to combine or blend together in an indistinct way; to behave in an excessively sentimental or soft-hearted manner
2. To change from a solid or firm state to a soft, formless mass often due to heating or soaking; to mix or intermingle until distinctions are blurred; to act in a manner that displays excessive tenderness or affection
3. Transforming into a squishy, amorphous substance typically caused by exposure to heat or liquids; merging thoroughly so that original components lose their shape; acting in a way that is overly emotional or tender-hearted

Etymology: The plural "mushes" simply follows the noun "mush" and the verb "mush," so its story is really the story of "mush." The noun goes back to Old English "mōs," meaning food or porridge, which passed through Middle English "mos" and survives in the old compound "appelmos," or applesauce. Its relatives are widespread across Germanic languages, including Dutch "moes," German "Mus," and Swedish "mos," all meaning pulp or puree. The verb has a more colorful history. In North American English it means to drive a dog sled, and the cry "mush" or "marche" reportedly came from French "marchons," "let us go," shouted by fur traders and trappers to their dogs. Its exact route into English is debated, and the sled sense is probably tied to that cry, though the noun may have influenced it.

Synonyms: purees, pastes