# "Smashmouth" (the word)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashmouth-the-word/53352>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 6, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashmouth-the-word/53352 "2001-02-06T15:12:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashmouth-the-word/53352/1 "2001-02-06T15:12:58Z")

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Why is this word everywhere now? I hear it in every stupid XFL commerical–even w/ Mike Ditka (I think) saying something like “Smashmouth football was our creed”–and it’s the title of that Gore/Bush book that’s out now.

When did this term originate? It ain’t in my Webster’s 10th. I never heard of it before the band Smashmouth became popular a few years ago–certainly not way back when Ditka was playing football.

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**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smashmouth-the-word/53352/2 "2001-02-06T15:24:31Z")

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A “Smashmouth” was a 1950’s slang term for a brawl.

It also is a term used for a cudgel, which I believe is a walking stick with a clublike aspect.