http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/mosh "Moshing also known as slam dancing is a type of dance which involves jumping around/pushing other people/going crazy to loud "rock" or punk music. It is very popular amongst young rock and metal fans, especially heavy metal and nu metal fans. Most participants consider it lots of fun, but it can be dangerous to people in and around the "mosh pit", and has resulted in serious injuries and hospitalisation.
"The term "Mosh" has often incorrectly been attributed to Vinnie Stigma of the hardcore group Agnostic Front as an acronym for "March Of Skin Heads", when in fact it came from Darryl Jennifer, bass guitarist for the band Bad Brains, as a mispronunciation of the word "mash".
"Moshing means different things within different genres of music. The kind of mosh you will see at hardcore punk shows is very different to the kind of mosh at grunge shows.
"Originally, there were different types of "slam dancing." One type was the slam dance itself, which is now referred to as moshing. However, there was also the pogo , where dancers jumped up and down, as if on a pogo-stick, and bumped into each other. In Germany and Brazil , pogo is the common name for all moshing.
"Although a fundamentaly violent form of dance, the participants do not partake to cause injury. The dancing is physical expression of a pacified rage."