'squash' originates from the Latin word 'exquassare', where 'ex-' meant 'out' and 'quassare' meant 'to shake'.

'exquassare' transformed into the Old French word 'esquasser', and eventually became the modern English word 'squash'.

Initially, it meant 'to shake out', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to crush or flatten'.