The word “gash” is used with a striking versatility in literature, often evoking the raw, physical imagery of wounds and cuts. It appears in vivid descriptions of violent injury, as when a character’s flesh is torn open by a knife ([1], [2]), or when blood gushes from a severe cut in battle ([3], [4]). Yet, its application is not limited to the tangible; it also serves as a powerful metaphor for emotional suffering or national decay, suggesting deep, often irreparable scars on character or society ([5], [6], [7]). In some instances the term even broadens its scope to depict physical ruptures in landscapes, creating images of nature as if marred by a brutal cut ([8]). This multifaceted use underscores the word’s capacity to convey both physical and psychological trauma across a wide range of literary contexts.