We explain what a crush is, the origin of the term in English and how it was used. Also, how it came to be used in Spanish.
What is a crush?
The word crush comes from English, and is a verb that has meanings associated with “crush”, “crunch” or “shred”, which is why it is common to find it in drinks based on squeezed fruit (such as Orange Crush). However, at the beginning of the 21st century, an ancient use of the term became popular, linked to the world of romance and love, and which has been adopted into popular Internet slang in Spanish, thanks to social networks and culture 2.0.
In English language, The first recorded meaning of “crush” with a loving meaning dates back to 1884in the diary of the writer Isabella Maud Rittenhouse (1864-1946).
According to certain Anglo-Saxon language scholars, this term could come from “mash” used colloquially at the time to refer to falling in love or flirting, and which according to some etymological dictionaries of the 19th century could come from the Romani term masheravawhich translates as “charm” or “seduce.”
The truth is that Starting in 1913, the phrase “to have a crush on someone” to refer to the act of falling in love. However, over time this use was restricted to platonic infatuation, also known in English as puppy love.
This is because it is a contemplative, impossible type of love, entirely fascinated by the object of desire and which resembles the devotion that puppies feel for their masters.
This last sense is the one that has been adopted in Spanish in recent years. Thus, “having a crush on someone” or “someone being my crush” are common phrases in youth slang that should be interpreted as the speaker feeling a platonic and lasting attraction for that person.
It is common for such statements to be made regarding film actors, personalities from the world of music or simply famous people, since said unrequited love has youthful and adolescent overtones.
Continue with: Stalking
References
- “What does Crush mean?” in La Nación (Argentina).
- “What does 'crush' mean? Here we tell you what it is about” in El Comercio (Peru).
- “Etymology of crush” in English Language and Usage.
- “Puppy love” on Wikipedia (English).
