First recorded in 1865–70; noun use of verb phrase wash up
wash
[wosh, wawsh]
verb (used with object)
to apply water or some other liquid to (something or someone) for the purpose of cleansing; cleanse by dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water or some other liquid.
to remove (dirt, stains, paint, or any matter) by or as by the action of water (usually followed by out, off, etc.): to wash grime out of clothing.
to free from spiritual defilement or from sin, guilt, etc.: to be washed whiter than the snow.
to bathe, wet, or moisten with water or other liquid: a meadow newly washed with morning dew.
to flow through, over, or against: a shore or cliff washed by waves.
to carry, bring, remove, or deposit (something) by means of water or any liquid, or as the water or liquid does (often followed by up, down, or along): The storm washed the boat up on the shore. A sailor was washed overboard.
to wear or diminish, as water does by flowing over or against a surface (often followed by out or away): The rain had washed away the lettering on the stone.
(of water) to form by flowing over and eroding a surface: The flood had washed a new channel through the bottom lands.
Mining.
to subject (earth or ore) to the action or force of water in order to separate valuable material.
to separate (valuable material) in this way.
to purify (a gas or gaseous mixture) by passage through or over a liquid.
to cover with a watery or thin coat of color.
to overlay with a thin coat or deposit of metal: to wash brass with gold.
to wash oneself: After using the insecticide spray they washed completely.
to wash clothes: Monday is the day we wash.
to cleanse anything with or in water or other liquid.
to undergo washing without injury, especially shrinking or fading: fabrics guaranteed to wash.
Informal. to be found true, valid, or real when tested or closely scrutinized; stand being put to the proof: His honesty won't wash.
to be carried or driven by water (often followed by along or ashore): The boat had washed ashore in the night.
to flow or beat with a lapping sound, as waves on a shore.
to move along in or as in waves, or with a rushing movement, as water.
to be eroded, as by a stream or by rainfall: a hillside that washes frequently.
to be removed by the action of water (often followed by away): Much of the topsoil washes away each spring.
noun
the act or process of washing with water or other liquid: to give the car a wash.
a quantity of clothes, linens, etc., washed, or to be washed, at one time: a heavy wash.
a liquid with which something is washed, wetted, colored, overspread, etc.: She gave the room a wash of pale blue.
the flow, sweep, dash, or breaking of water: The wash of the waves had drenched us.
the sound made by this: listening to the wash of the Atlantic.
water moving along in waves or with a rushing movement: the wash of the incoming tide.
the rough or broken water left behind a moving ship, boat, etc.; wake: The little boats tossed about in the wash from the liner's propellers.
Aeronautics. the disturbance in the air left behind by a moving airplane or any of its parts: wing wash.
any of various liquids for grooming or cosmetic purposes: a hair wash.
a lotion or other liquid having medicinal properties, as an antiseptic solution or the like (often used in combination): to apply wash to a skinned knee; mouthwash; eyewash.
Mining. minerals from which valuable material can be extracted by washing.
the wearing away of the shore by breaking waves.
a tract of land washed by the action of the sea or a river.
a marsh, fen, or bog.
a small stream or shallow pool.
a shallow arm of the sea or a shallow part of a river.
a depression or channel formed by flowing water.
Geology. alluvial matter transferred and deposited by flowing water.
Also called dry wash. Western U.S.the dry bed of an intermittent stream.
a broad, thin layer of color applied by a continuous movement of the brush, as in water-color painting.
before 900;Middle Englishwashen (v.), Old Englishwascan (cognate with Dutchwasschen,Germanwaschen,Old Norsevaska) < Germanic*watskan, equivalent to *wat- (root of water) + *-sk- v. suffix + *-an infinitive suffix
Related formspre·wash, noun, verb (used with object)re·wash, verbun·der·wash, verbwell-washed, adjective
late Old English wæsc "act of washing" (see wash (v.)). Meaning "clothes set aside to be washed" is attested from 1789; meaning "thin coat of paint" is recorded from 1690s; sense of "land alternately covered and exposed by the sea" is recorded from mid-15c.
wash
v.
Old English wascan, wæscan, from Proto-Germanic *watskanan (cf. Old Norse vaska, Middle Dutch wasscen, Dutch wassen, German waschen), from stem *wat-, the source of water. Related: Washed; washing. Used mainly of clothes in Old English (the principal verb for washing the body, dishes, etc. being þwean). Washed-out "faded" is from 1837. Washed up is 1923 theater slang, from notion of washing up at the end of a job.
Wash one's hands and face, as in It's time to wash up for dinner. [First half of 1900s] Also see clean up, def. 2.
2
Clean the utensils after a meal, as in I'll cook dinner if you promise to wash up. [Mid-1700s] Also see do the dishes.
3
Bring about the end or ruin of; finish. This usage is often used put in the passive, be washed up, as in She's all washed up as a singer. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
