hash etymology

Etymology

The word "hash" originates from:

• French: "hacher" (to mince, cut into small pieces)
• Old French: "hache" (axe)
• Proto-Indo-European root: "*keh₂-" (to cut)

Meaning

A hash is:

• A mixture of chopped or minced ingredients, typically vegetables, meat, or fruit.
• A chaotic or disordered collection of things.
• A computational digest of data, often used in cryptography.

Origin

The culinary term "hash" emerged in the 17th century, referring to a dish made from leftover meat and vegetables cut into small pieces. The word's association with a mixture likely stems from the act of chopping and combining various ingredients.

In computing, "hash" originated in the 1950s to describe a function that maps input data to a fixed-size output. The term was derived from the culinary sense of "hashing" something up by combining it into a chaotic or disordered form. However, the computational hash function creates a more structured output, even though it appears random.

hash relate terms

• hashish

  Etymology The word hashish is derived from the Arabic حشيش hashīsh which lit

• hatch

  Etymology Old English hæcc hǣcc noun half door wicket Middle English hacche no

• hatchet

  Etymology Old English hæccete Proto Germanic hakkiþō Indo European kekk to st

• hatchet

  Etymology Old English hæccete Proto Germanic hakkiþō Indo European kekk to st

• gallimaufry

  Etymology The word gallimaufry originated from the Old French word gallimafrée whi

• miscellany

  Etymology Latin miscellaneus mixed various From miscere to mix aneus pe

• clock

  Etymology Middle English clokke from Old English clucge Germanic origin Proto German

• chop

  Etymology The word chop derives from the Old English word ceappan meaning to buy or

• dish

  Etymology Middle English dich dysshe from Old French escuelle escuelle shallow bo

• miasma

  Etymology Ancient Greek μίασμα miasma meaning pollution defilement or

• ostensible

  Etymology Latin ostendere to show exhibit Past participle ostensus French os

• instrument

  Etymology The word instrument comes from the Latin word instrumentum which means t

• method

  Etymology The word method comes from the Greek word methodos which means way to a g