Meanings
masher1
plural mashers
- One who, or that which, mashes.
- beveragesA machine for making mash.
masher2
plural mashers
- datedinformalA fashionable man.
For in this quality of “clubbable,” and the value now put upon it, lies the whole secret of change in our fast men, mashers, and men about town.
1886, Punch, volume 91, page 249Synonyms: dandy, fop, barbermonger, beau, blade, blood, buck, carpet knight
- AustraliaCanadaUSdatedA man who makes often unwelcome advances to women, as in a subway.
"Mama! Do you think that I'd allow a common masher-- Now, really Mama! I have my standards where men are concerned..."
1957, Meredith Willson, The Music Man1 more example
"Oh, gee!" remarked the Girl from Sieber-Mason's, glancing up with the most capable coolness. "Ain't there any way to ever get rid of you mashers? I've tried everything from eating onions to using hatpins. Be on your way, Freddie."
c. 1900, O. Henry, The Ferry of Unfulfilment
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA fashionable man.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna man who is aggressive in making amorous advances to women
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
masher · noun
- Romanimasha“a fascinator, an enticer”
- Englishmasher
Either by analogy with masher (“one who presses, softens”), or more likely from Romani masha (“a fascinator, an enticer”), mashdva (“fascination, enticement”). Originally used in theater, and recorded in US in 1870s. Either originally borrowed as masher, from masha, or from mash + -er.
More words from Romani
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Hungarian nyomó
- nyomóTranslations
Polish tłuczek
- tłuczekTranslations
Spanish pasapuré, pasapurés
- pasapuréTranslations
- pasapurésTranslations
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with masher
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
masher. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/masher
“masher.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/masher. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “masher,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/masher.
Source: masher on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.