Mash
Mash turns up in 2 fields: brewing, shop slang. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Mash in brewing
A hot mixture of crushed malt and water where enzymes convert grain starches into fermentable sugars.
A mash is the thick, porridge-like mixture of milled grains and hot water created at the start of the brewing or distilling process. Holding this mixture at specific temperature rests activates natural malt enzymes, such as amylase, which break down complex grain starches into simpler, fermentable sugars. The liquid portion of the mash will eventually be drained off as wort.
"The mash is resting at 152 Fahrenheit, we'll start the recirculation in forty-five minutes."
Mash in shop slang
To force components together using excessive physical force.
To crush, deform, or aggressively force parts into place rather than aligning them properly. Workers mash things when they lose patience with tight tolerances, cross-threaded bolts, or mismatched fittings. It usually results in stripped threads, bent brackets, and ruined equipment.
"Don't just mash the gears into the housing, you need to align the splines first."