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 (countable and uncountable, 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, published 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. (countable, uncountable) 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 presoftened 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.

   • 1995, Chrono Trigger:

     You're a marshmallow, Glenn.

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

1. (transitive, intransitive) 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”, in 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.

Borrowed from English marshmallow.

• IPA^(key): /maɕˈmɛlːow/

marshmallow c

1. marshmallow

• marshmallow in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• marshmallow in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)