gash

¹

[gash]

noun

1. a long, deep wound or cut; slash.

2. Slang: Vulgar.

   1. the vagina.

   2. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.,  a contemptuous term used to refer to a woman considered as a sex object.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a long, deep cut in; slash.

gash

²

[gash]

adjective

Chiefly Scot.

1. wise, sagacious.

2. neat; well-dressed; well-groomed.

gash

³

[gash]

adjective

Scot. Archaic.

1. dreary or gloomy in appearance.

gash

¹

/ ɡæʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to make a long deep cut or wound in; slash

noun

1. a long deep cut or wound

gash

²

/ ɡæʃ /

adjective

1. slang,  surplus to requirements; unnecessary, extra, or spare

Sensitive Note

When referring to a female, this term is used with disparaging intent and perceived as highly insulting. The word cunt shows a similar transfer of meaning from a woman’s genitalia to the woman herself.

Other Word Forms

• ungashed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gash¹

First recorded in 1540–50; alteration of Middle English garsen, garcen “to make medical incisions” (with alteration of s to sh after r), from Old French garser, jarsier “to scarify, wound,” from unrecoreded Vulgar Latin charaxāre, from Greek charássein “to scratch, notch”; character

Origin of gash²

First recorded in 1700–10; origin uncertain

Origin of gash³

First recorded in 1580–90; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of gash¹

C16: from Old French garser to scratch, wound, from Vulgar Latin charissāre (unattested), from Greek kharassein to scratch

Origin of gash²

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

While MacLeod’s body was ravaged — he had an enormous gash in his right shoulder where the lightning entered and a gaping hole in his back where it exited — Nordbrock barely had a scratch.

From Los Angeles Times

“Three days ago, while admiring the stonework, I happened to notice a huge gash in the limestone that extended more than 25 yards long. It was deep and nasty!” he wrote.

From Salon

Other passengers were left with gashes and broken bones.

From BBC

One of those wounds was a gash on her left hand between her index finger and thumb.

From BBC

Jurors saw photos of gashes and bruises on her body and watched the infamous Intercontinental hotel security footage which appears to show Combs beating her and dragging her by her hair.

From BBC