marshmallow

• marsh mallow, marsh-mallow

From Old English mersċmealwe, corresponding to marsh +‎ mallow.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑɹʃˌmɛl.oʊ/, /ˈmɑɹʃˌmæl.oʊ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æləʊ

marshmallow (plural marshmallows)

1. Marsh mallow, a species of mallow, Althaea officinalis, that grows in marshy terrain. [from 9th c.]
   • 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society 2007, page 180:

     Our common Marsh Mallows have diverse soft, hoary white stalks rising to be three or four foot high, spreading forth many branches.

2. A type of confectionery, originally (since Ancient Egyptian times) made from this plant, but now generally made of sugar or corn syrup, gelatin that has been pre-softened in water, gum arabic, flavorings, and sometimes beaten egg whites, all whipped to a spongy consistency. [from 19th c.]
   • 1906, Elbert Hubbard, Love, Life and Work:

     The Disagreeable Girl is a female of the genus homo persuasion, built around a digestive apparatus that possesses marked marshmallow proclivities.

   • December 1915, P. G. Wodehouse, "My Battle with Drink", in Vanity Fair

     It was an apple marshmallow sundae, I recollect. I dug my spoon into it with an assumption of gaiety which I was far from feeling.

3. (figuratively) Someone who is soft and benign.

   He acts like a total badass, but he's really just a marshmallow once you get to know him.

marshmallow (third-person singular simple present marshmallows, present participle marshmallowing, simple past and past participle marshmallowed)

1. To soften (literally or figuratively)
   • 2005, Ken Gunther, Lilith: A Biography

     For i could still feel her small face in my hands, her lips marshmallowing under the brushing knuckle of my index, the hard press of her capable contoured body.

   • 2005, Joylynn Jossel, If I Ruled the World

     He didn't know if touching me meant that I would marshmallow up or if he would have to brace himself for a blow.

   • 2011, JB Sanders, Glen & Tyler's Honeymoon Adventure

     Various dishes heaped with food were tucked haphazardly all over: mounds of whipped potatoes, medleys of buttered vegetables, marshmallowed sweet potatoes, oyster stuffing, cranberry sauce (fresh from the can) and even more dishes

• marshmallow at OneLook Dictionary Search

Unadapted borrowing from English marshmallow.

marshmallow m (plural marshmallows)

1. marshmallow (pre-softened confectionery made with sugar, corn syrup, egg whites and gelatin)

Unadapted borrowing from English marshmallow.

• IPA^(key): /maɾʃˈmalo/ [maɾʃˈma.lo]
• Rhymes: -alo

marshmallow m (plural marshmallows)

1. marshmallow

• According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.