crash

crash · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Middle English · inherited fromcrasshen
2. English todaycrash

From Middle English crasshen, crasschen, craschen (“to break into pieces”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a variant of earlier *crasken, from crasen (“to break”) + -k (formative suffix); or from earlier *craskien, *craksien, a variant of craken (“to crack, break open”) (for form development compare break, brask, brash).

crash · noun²

1. Russian · derived fromкрашени́на“coarse linen”
2. English todaycrash

Uncertain; perhaps compare Russian крашени́на (krašenína, “coarse linen”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 1920s Ellipsis of gatecrash.
• from 1940s To lie down for a long rest, sleep or nap, as from tiredness or exhaustion.