scotch
nounverbadjectivenounnounverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//skɒt͡ʃ//
- United States//skɑt͡ʃ//
A surface cut or abrasion.
noun
- 1
A surface cut or abrasion.
- 2
A line drawn on the ground, as one used in playing hopscotch.
- 3
A block for a wheel or other round object; a chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping.
a scotch for a wheel or a log on inclined ground
He was like the scotch in the smooth, happy machinery of the home. And he was always aware of this fall of silence on his entry, the shutting off of life, the unwelcome.
In December, 1949, the Ashby to Worthington section of the former Midland Railway Ashby branch was divided into two portions by the insertion of a scotch block at Ticknall Siding, which requires both the tablet from Worthington and wooden staff from Ashby to unlock it and permit through working.
The cars are positioned and secured solely by simple scotches pegged into the decking of the vehicle and easily movable; [...].
Etymology
From Middle English scocchen (“to cut”), perhaps from Anglo-Norman escocher (“to notch”), from es- (“intensive prefix”) (from Latin ex-) + Old French coche (“notch”). Not related to Scotch.
verb
- 1
To cut or score; to wound superficially.
We have scotched the snake, not killed it.
- 2
To prevent (something) from being successful.
The rain scotched his plans of going to the beach.
- 3
To debunk or discredit an idea or rumor.
The prime minister scotched rumors of his resignation.
Other declassified files from the 1960s show that the Northern Ireland government discussed a proposed tunnel to Scotland. Several district councils and a US firm, Technical Studies Inc, championed the idea, but Stormont officials scotched it as impractical and too expensive.
- 4
To block a wheel or other round object.
The workers stopped the rig on an incline and scotched the wheels.
The pantechnicon was running away. It had perceived the wrath to come and was fleeing. Its guardians had evidently left it imperfectly scotched or braked, and it had got loose.
- 5
To dress (stone) with a pick or pointed instrument.
- 6
To beat yarn in order to break up slugs and align the threads.
Yarn is scotched immediately after it has been dried and while it is still warm. http://www.google.com/patents?id=DXdGAAAAEBAJ&pg=PP3&vq=scotched&dq=scotching
- 7
obsoleteTo clothe or cover up.
adjective
- 1
Variant of ScotchAlternative form of Scotch (“Scottish”)
noun
- 1
Variant of ScotchAlternative form of Scotch (“whisky”).
A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
noun
- 1
Variant of Scotch tapeClipping of Scotch tape.
Etymology
From 3M's Scotch tape; the Australian rhyming slang comes from the rhyme between tape and rape.
verb
- 1
slangTo rape.
Forms
- plural
- scotches
- comparative
- more scotch
- superlative
- most scotch
- past tense
- scotched
- past participle
- scotched
- present participle
- scotching
- third person singular
- scotches