Mush
/mʌʃ/noun
A soft, thick mixture or porridge; also an imperative meaning “go,” especially to a sled team.
Did you know?The sled-driving command is generally traced to French marche, meaning “go” or “walk,” filtered through North American French-speaking communities rather than originating as an Inuit word.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
mus
“A soft food or porridge; probably related to the tradition of mashing ingredients into a thick mixture.”
16th–17th Century
English
mush
“A soft, pulpy mass or porridge, especially food made from meal or grain.”
17th Century
French
marche
““Go!” or “walk!”—the imperative associated with the later sled-driving command.”
18th Century
North American English
mush
“A command urging a dog team or person to move forward, likely reshaped from French marche.”
19th Century
English
mush
“A thick cornmeal porridge, especially in North American usage.”
Modern English
English
mush
“Soft food or material; figuratively, something sentimental, weak, or lacking structure.”