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

Explanation

To mosh is to dance in a wild, almost violent way. Fans of music like hardcore punk and thrash metal often mosh at live shows. Concert-goers first began to mosh in the early 1980s while listening to bands play loud, aggressive hardcore and punk music. A "mosh pit" is the area near the stage where fans dance crazily. It became more common to mosh when grunge gained popularity in the late 80s. This verb was first spelled mash, but pronounced mosh — probably thanks to the lead singer of the band Bad Brains, who encouraged crowds to "mash it up" in his Jamaican accent.

Example Sentences

“Seeing people of all ages, genders and backgrounds come together to mosh, lift each other up, chant, cry, scream in both parts joyful and angry, is my greatest joy.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

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

Like the other night, there were two guys dressed as bright yellow bananas in the mosh pit.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

"I asked you for a mosh pit and I'm not gonna lie to you, it was weak," he scolded, promising to give the crowd something to really get their teeth into.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2025

The warm-up band, Queens of the Stone Age, already had the crowd jumping by the time Fang and I shoved our way to the periphery of the mosh pit.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx