mosh

American  

[mosh] / mɒʃ /

verb (used without object)

Slang.

1. to engage in a form of frenzied, violent dancing; slam-dance.

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mosh British  

/ mɒʃ /

noun

1. a type of dance, performed to loud rock music, in which people throw themselves about in a frantic and violent manner

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verb

1. (intr) to dance in this manner

Etymology

Origin of mosh

1980–85; perhaps variant of mash ¹

Example Sentences

To justify that rock-star multiple, Starbucks must show it can do more than rebound from several years of morning mosh pits and barren cafes with disappearing furniture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

But the ones people hum are the funny ones, the ones you can polka or waltz or mosh to, the ones that pep you up.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025

The crowd's energy for some of Lamar's earliest songs was electric, with mosh pits erupting throughout the standing areas for Backstreet Freestyle and family ties.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

People attending the festival, headlined by Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn, are being asked to put their devices into airplane mode before entering mosh pits.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2025

"It's no problem. Yo, Aimee," Brick calls, and this beautiful girl spins out of the mosh pit and glides toward us.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon