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Added 8 October 2026

dash

/ˈdæʃ/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dash at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Any of the following symbols: ‒ (figure dash), – (en dash), — (em dash), or ― (horizontal bar).
A hyphen or minus sign.
The longer of the two symbols of Morse code.

verb

To run quickly or for a short distance.
He dashed across the field.
To leave or depart.
I have to dash now. See you soon.
To destroy by striking (against).
He dashed the bottle against the bar and turned about to fight.

Origin

From Middle English daschen, dassen, from Danish daske (“to slap, strike”), related to Swedish daska (“to smack, slap, spank”), of obscure origin. Compare German tatschen (“to grope, paw”), Old English dwǣsċan (“to quell, put out, destroy, extinguish”). See also dush.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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