The expression mush/moosh

[hampshire]

Where does the expression mush or moosh used in conjunction with mate or friend and used a lot in Hampshire come from?

[Quizmonster]

This first started appearing in the 1930s, meaning just a man/chap. Perhaps the opening 'm' seemed to fit with the 'm' of mate and hence it came to be applied more frequently to a friend/acquaintance. The origin is unknown and it doesn't appear to have much connection with any of the other meanings of the word.

[New Forester]

I was brought up in Surrey, & it was used there too a lot. I don't know. Just to be clear to those not fluent in Home Counties dialect, we are not talking about "mush" as said to huskies to move them on, nor is it a diminutive for a pet mushroom. This word rhymes with push. Like mate or chum, it's used to address someone, often in a slightly unfriendly way, as in: "Watch it mush, or I'll clock you one", or "Oi mush, you looking at my bird?!".

[hampshire]

Many thanks for the quick response on this. I was born in the New Forest and this was used extensively and we wondered where Mush derived from.

[hampshire]

WE HAVE FOUND THE ANSWER! A friend of ours who specialises in Romany/gypsy life gave us the following: Mush is a Romany word which means "man". A Romany dictionary* gives its origin as "Indian (from Sanskrit)". A few other Romany words have been adopted, e.g. "kushti", and some which are impolite. Many thanks to all who responded on this. From a Hampshire Mush

[Sir_Spikey]

Hampshire is in deed completely correct. The word is one of many that you Gawje have adopted from us Romany. Like Kushti, meaning good as used by Del boy, or Minj to mean the delicate part of the female gender. Mostly, Romany phrases were picked up and adopted by Eastenders due to the large amount of seasonal workers who camped in that area during the winter. For a further list of Romani words (many of which you might recognise) check here: http://www.khaoshq.fsnet.co.uk/ClanBook%20Ravnos/lexicon.htm l

[Corek]

It is Russian for Husband.

[Corek]

It is Russian for "Husband", just as "Nosh" is Russian for Knife.