gash

gash · noun, verb¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromχαρακτήρ“engraver”
2. Vulgar Latin · derived from*charaxāre
3. Old French · derived fromgarser
4. Middle English · inherited fromgarsen
5. English todaygash

Alteration of older garsh, from Middle English garsen, from Old French garser, jarsier (Modern French gercer), from Vulgar Latin *charaxāre, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “engraver”).

gash · noun, adjective²

1. French · derived fromgâcher“to waste, to mess up”
2. English todaygash

From French gâcher (“to waste, to mess up”) or gâchis (“waste, a mess”), likely borrowed into English by ships' crews in the 19th century. Became increasingly vulgar by association with Etymology 1.

gash · adjective³

From ghastful, by association with gash.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• c. 1950s Spare, extra.