hash

¹

[hash]

noun

1. a dish of diced or chopped meat and often vegetables, as of leftover corned beef or veal and potatoes, sautéed in a frying pan, or of meat, potatoes, and carrots cooked together in gravy.

2. a mess, jumble, or muddle.

   a hash of unorganized facts and figures.

3. a reworking of old and familiar material.

   This essay is a hash of several earlier and better works.

4. Computers.

   1. garbage.

   2. hash value.

   3. hashing.

   4. hash mark.

   5. hash table.

5. Radio and Television Slang.,  electrical noise on an analog radio or, appearing as snow, in an analog television picture, caused by interfering outside sources that generate sparking.

verb (used with object)

1. to chop into small pieces; make into hash; mince.

2. to muddle or mess up.

   We thought we knew our parts, but when the play began we hashed the whole thing.

3. to discuss or review (something) thoroughly (often followed byout ).

   They hashed out every aspect of the issue.

verb phrase

1. hash over,  to bring up again for consideration; discuss, especially in review.

   At the class reunion they hashed over their college days.

hash

²

[hash]

noun

Slang.

1. hashish.

hash

¹

/ hæʃ /

noun

1. a dish of diced cooked meat, vegetables, etc, reheated in a sauce

2. something mixed up

3. a reuse or rework of old material

4. informal

   1. to mix or mess up

   2. to defeat or destroy

5. informal,  to subdue or silence someone

verb

1. to chop into small pieces

2. to mix or mess up

hash

²

/ hæʃ /

noun

1. the character (#) used to precede a number

2. this sign used in printing or writing to indicate that a space should be inserted

hash

³

/ hæʃ /

noun

1. slang,  short for hashish

Other Word Forms

• unhashed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hash¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from French hacher “to cut up,” derivative of hache “ax,” hatchet

Origin of hash²

By shortening

Word History and Origins

Origin of hash¹

C17: from Old French hacher to chop up, from hache _hatchet

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. settle someone's hash, to stop, silence, or subdue.

   If she keeps badmouthing me, I'm going to have to settle her hash.

2. make a hash of, to spoil or botch.

   The new writer made a hash of his first assignment.

More idioms and phrases containing hash

• make a hash of
• settle someone's hash
• sling hash

Example Sentences

The DMV is in the process of hashing out the specifics, including potential penalties.

From Los Angeles Times

The busy brunch spot offers something for everyone, with a variety of bowls, hashes, benedicts, and omelets.

From Salon

Some creators said they use AI to help hash out concepts, cut down on production costs and showcase bold ideas.

From Los Angeles Times

Restaurants serve Southern-style food such as mashed potatoes, hash brown casserole and macaroni and cheese.

From BBC

The failure in court came less than a week before the law was to take effect and after years of regulatory work to hash out the specifics.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• stew