# dash

> English word · Noun · IPA /dæʃ/ · frequency rank #7,116

## Definitions
1. Any of the following symbols: ‒ (figure dash), – (en dash), — (em dash), or ― (horizontal bar).
2. Any of the following symbols: ‒ (figure dash), – (en dash), — (em dash), or ― (horizontal bar).
3. The longer of the two symbols of Morse code.
4. A short run, flight.
5. A rushing or violent onset.
6. Violent strike; a whack.
7. A small quantity of a liquid substance etc.; less than 1/8 of a teaspoon.
8. A slight admixture.
9. Ostentatious vigor.
10. A bribe or gratuity; a gift.
11. A stand-in for a censored word, like "Devil" or "damn". (Compare deuce.)
12. Ellipsis of dashboard.
13. Ellipsis of dashboard.
14. A prime symbol.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **DS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-ds)
- **day** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-day)
- **Des** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-des)
- **dis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dis)
- **DOS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dos)
- **duh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-duh)
- **dat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dat)
- **DJs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-djs)
- **DHS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dhs)
- **DPS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dps)
- **DSM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dsm)
- **DAW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-daw)
- **Dax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dax)
- **DMs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dms)
- **DBS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dbs)
- **doh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-doh)
- **DSP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dsp)
- **DCS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dcs)
- **DSL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dsl)
- **DTs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dash-vs-dts)

## Common misspellings (6)
`adsh`, `dahs`, `dashh`, `dassh`, `ddash`, `dsah`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dash