Hashing is the old British schoolboys' game of "Hare and Hounds", as practiced by the Hash House Harriers. In Hare and Hounds, a runner or runners are designated as Hares, and set out to lay a trail for the other runners (the "Hounds") to follow. Trail is marked with flour, shredded paper, or some other appropriate substance, referred to either as "scent" or "hash". After a suitable head start, the Hounds take off after the Hares.

The Hash House Harriers began playing Hare and Hounds in 1938 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Surrounding this simple children's game in amusing ceremony, cameradery, and imbibery, the Hash House Harriers have spread Hashing all over the world.