Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a weak spineless person.

1957

J.D. MacDonald Price of Murder (1978) 148: ‘... soft!’ Keefler yelled. ‘Every damn one of you! [...] You mushbellies don’t understand what it is to be a cop.’.

a dolt, a mawkishly sentimental person.

1982		N.Y. Times 18 Jul. (Nexis) Mush-brains are everywhere.
1988		M. Atwood Cat’s Eye (1989) 236: They are sentimental mushballs. The real truth is to be found in rock and roll: ‘Hearts Made of Stone’ is more like it.

stupid, sentimental, nonsensical.

1999

Guardian Guide 29 May–4 June 98: In recent times, [it] degenerated into a mush-brained mixture of cookery, crafts and talented kids.

(US) one who speaks in an affected manner.

1889		Pittsburgh Dispatch (PA) 23 June 18/4: ‘A piece of undiluted, mush-eating, Massachussetts mendacity,’ said the Colonel.
1911		S. Ford Torchy 20: You know these mush eaters, with their, ‘Ah, I’m su-ah, quite su-ah, doncher know’?

a fool, a sentimental idiot.

1934		(con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 354: She was dancing with Larkin, smiling at something the mush-face said.
1936		(ref. to 1920s) L. Duncan Over the Wall 53: This gate [...] emitted an electronic buzz that made me jump a little, much to the amusement of mush-face in the tower.

stupid, foolish.

1915		Eve. World (NY) 4 Nov. 18/3: These mush-faced cutey dolls who pout and simper and heave their chests.
1916		J. Lait ‘Charlie the Wolf’ in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 57: ‘This here is a dangerous young can’idate for the pen, ‘ says the sergeant, pointing at a mush-faced youngster.
1935		(con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 750: The mush-faced, bull-necked fellow stretched out his legs.

see separate entry.

1. indistinct speech.

1926		Richard M. Jones [song title] Mushmouth Blues.
1942		Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Sl.
1964		R.P. Warren Flood 17: Not in Tennessee, not in that mush-mouth.
1988		T. Harris Silence of the Lambs (1991) 36: You come talking that mushmouth, people say you eat up with the dumb-ass, girl.

2. (also mush jib) a person who mumbles.

1926		Richard M. Jones ‘Mushmouth Blues’ [song title]?
1933		J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 252: Mushmouth McGinty was a symbol of the whole goddamn shootin’ match.
1940		H. Asbury Gangs of Chicago (2002) 167: Mushmouth Johnson — his real name was John V. — came to Chicago from St. Louis in the middle 1870s.
1960		I. Freeman Out of the Burning (1961) 12: I bet the four-eyed mushmouth had never seen the country club.
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 121: Some mush jib Polack dialled the wrong number.
1986		S. King It (1987) 213: ‘You sure?’ Belch asked. ‘You better be, mushmouth.’.
1995		J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 121: The actual mayor [...] known to City Hallers as ‘Mush Mouth’.

3. attrib. use of sense 2: mumbling.

1972		R. Barrett Lovomaniacs (1973) 118: That southern mushmouth judge.
1987		‘Joe Bob Briggs’ Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 220: We’re talking Attack of the Mushmouth French-Fry Heads.

a sentimental note, a love letter.

1917		O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 24 Feb. [synd. col.] He is surfeited by gushing mush notes from frivolous damsels all over the country.
1948		J. Archibald ‘Klump a la Carte’ Popular Detective July 🌐 Just a mush note [...] Don’t mean nothin’ as it is signed only by ‘Sugarface’.

see sense 2 above.

(US Und./police) a woman or a prostitute who obtains money from men by playing on their sympathy, giving them a ‘sob story’.

1927		‘Jargon of the Und.’ in DN V 456: Mush worker, An attractive woman who fleeces unsuspecting men by telling them some pitiful racket.
1934		G. & S. Lorimer Stag Line 145: I’m not talking about these mush workers that tell you some sob story.
1949		N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 184: Copper johns, double clockers, lush workers and mush workers, deadpickers and turncoats.
1971		Winick & Kinsie Lively Commerce 41: A prostitute who steals from her clients is called a ‘mush worker’.

favourable criticisms that are written in return for cash or food and drink.

1909

J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.