a dish of diced or chopped meat and often vegetables, as of leftover corned beef or veal and potatoes, sautéed in a frying pan or of meat, potatoes, and carrots cooked together in gravy.
a mess, jumble, or muddle: a hash of unorganized facts and figures.
a reworking of old and familiar material: This essay is a hash of several earlier and better works.
Computers. garbage (def. 8).
Computers. (in an algorithmic process) a single number representing a message or other data set, the simplification of which facilitates comparison to numbers representative of other data sets.
Radioand TelevisionSlang. electrical noise on a radio or snow in a television picture caused by interfering outside sources that generate sparking.
verb (used with object)
to chop into small pieces; make into hash; mince.
to muddle or mess up: We thought we knew our parts, but when the play began we hashed the whole thing.
to discuss or review (something) thoroughly (often followed by out): They hashed out every aspect of the issue.
Verb Phrases
hash over,to bring up again for consideration; discuss, especially in review: At the class reunion they hashed over their college days.
Idioms for hash
make a hash of, to spoil or botch: The new writer made a hash of his first assignment.
settle someone's hash, Informal. to get rid of; subdue: Her blunt reply really settled my hash.
Origin of hash
1
First recorded in 1645–55; from French hacher “to cut up,” derivative of hache “ax,” see hatchet