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scotch1 definition

scotch (skäc̸h)

transitive verb

  1. to cut; scratch; score; notch

  2. Etymology: < Theobald's emendation of scorch in Shakespeare's Macbeth, III, ii, 13

    to wound without killing; maim
  3. to put an end to; stifle; stamp out to scotch a rumor

Etymology: ME scocchen, prob. < Anglo-Fr escocher < OFr coche, a notch, nick < VL *cocca, knob at the end of a spindle (later, groove below this knob) < L coccum, berry < Gr kokkos

noun

a cut or scratch
scotch2 definition

scotch (skäc̸h)

transitive verb

to block (a wheel, log, etc.) with a wedge, block, etc. to prevent movement

Etymology: earlier scatch < ? OFr escachier, to crush < es- (L ex) + VL *coacticare: see cache

noun

such a block, wedge, etc. used to prevent rolling, slipping, etc.
Scotch definition

Scotch (skäc̸h)

adjective

of Scotland or its people, language, or culture; Scottish

Etymology: contr. < Scottish

noun

  1. Scottish
  2. whiskey, often having a smoky flavor, distilled in Scotland from malted barley
    in full Scotch whisky
Scotch Idioms

the Scotch

the Scottish people

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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