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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MASH, n. Also dim. mashie. A heavy two-faced hammer, used for stone-breaking, etc. (Cai., Per., Fif., Dmf. 1962). Also mash-hammer, id. (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Dmf. 1957 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XXXIV. 99). Gen.Sc. Deriv. masher, a quarryman who breaks large blocks of stone into smaller fragments with a mash (Ags. 1962).Ork. 1734 P. Ork. A.S. (1923) 65:
Two pair of tongs, . . . two Mashes, one small hammer.Abd. 1767 Aberdeen Jnl. (18 May):
A large Mash Hammer and other Hammers.Sc. 1837 Trans. Highl. Soc. 413:
Each block is . . . then finished at the points or edges with a cold chisel and mash hammer 6 lb. weight.Fif. 1868 St. Andrews Gazette (28 Nov.):
Quarry Plant . . . Consisting of . . . 11 Mash Hammers; 2 Hand-barrows; 1 Crane step (new).Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 44:
Mash, a double-hand hammer for breaking coal, setting up props, etc.Lnk. 1890 J. Coghill Poems 96:
A' ye, wha mell an' chisel wield, Or mash an' clourer.