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thatch Definition

thatch (t̸hac̸h)

noun

    1. a roof or roofing of straw, rushes, palm leaves, etc.
    2. material for such a roof
  2. any of a number of palms whose leaves are used for thatch
  3. anything suggestive of thatch on a roof as
    1. the hair growing on the head
    2. a matted layer of partly decayed leaves, stems, etc. between growing vegetation and the soil

Etymology: altered (based on the v.) < older thack < ME thac < OE thæc, a thatch, roof: for base see thatchthe

transitive verb

  1. to cover with or as with thatch
  2. dethatch

Etymology: ME thecchen < OE thecc(e)an, akin to Ger decken, to cover < IE base *(s)teg-, to cover > Gr stegos, roof, L tegere, to cover

thatch Related Forms

thatch′y adjective thatch′i·er, thatch′i·est

thatch Synonyms

thatch

n.

roof covering, straw roofing, thatch palm, thatching, reed thatch, rush thatch; see also roof, roofing.

thatch Usage Examples

Object

  • cottage: Not far from the thatched cottages, a lane runs between trees down to the church.
  • roof: The prices for the thatched roofs do not include the picnic tables.
  • hut: They entered a village of thatched huts built in a circle around a small clearing.
  • farmhouse: Rectory Farm is a large thatched farmhouse at the bottom of the street on the right hand side.
  • spar: Coppicing, in which thin tree stems were cut and used as thatching spars and hedging binders, still takes place.
  • barn: The property and thatched barn are individually Grade 11 listed.

Converse of object

  • replace: Three years later, a new building was developed on the site, with a slate roof replacing the thatch.
  • remove: The north aisle contains a 17th century bier and a fire hook for removing the thatch of houses which had caught fire.

Adjective modifier

  • heather: Today a heather thatch can be seen at the Cragside estate.
  • straw: Hurdles were woven from hazel or willow and topped with straw thatch.

Modifies a noun

  • roof: The left cottage retains a turf thatch roof, whilst the central cottage retains the remains of stone roof flags.
  • accumulation: Surface applications of phosphorus can stimulate rooting within the thatch layer, thereby further aggravating the thatch accumulation rate.
  • hut: The thatch huts are roofed with plumber's hemp.
  • cottage: Continue past even more delightful thatches cottages, continuing along Common Lane at the end of the High Street.
  • layer: The Thatch Bank In some respects, the thatch layer in turf grass is like a current bank account.

Modifying Another Word

pretty: There are pretty thatched cottages, barn conversions or elegant marine apartments.

Noun used with modifier

reed: Possible candidates include wild grass or reed thatch, bark or turf.

Preposition: with

  • reed: A new porch was constructed and the roof was thatched with reed.
  • heather: The roofs were thatched with heather, broom or straw.
  • straw: The houses were made usually with wattle and daub walls, wooden roofs thatched with straw or reeds and with clay or earth floors.