scotch
See also: Scotch
English
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /skɒtʃ/
- (General American) IPA(key): /skɑtʃ/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɒtʃ
Etymology 1
From Middle English scocchen (“to cut”), perhaps from Anglo-Norman escocher (“to notch”), from es- (“intensive prefix”) (from Latin ex-) + Old French coche (“notch”).
Noun
scotch (plural scotches)
- A surface cut or abrasion.
- A line drawn on the ground, as one used in playing hopscotch.
- A block for a wheel or other round object; a chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping.
- 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 4
- 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.
- a scotch for a wheel or a log on inclined ground
- 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 4
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
scotch (third-person singular simple present scotches, present participle scotching, simple past and past participle scotched)
- (transitive) To cut or score; to wound superficially.
- Shakespeare Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2
- We have scotched the snake, not killed it.
- Shakespeare Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2
- (transitive) To prevent (something) from being successful.
- Synonyms: foil, put the kibosh on, thwart
- The rain scotched his plans of going to the beach.
- (transitive) To debunk or discredit an idea or rumor.
- The prime minister scotched rumors of his resignation.
- (transitive) To block a wheel or other round object.
- 1911, Arnold Bennett, The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns, London: Methuen Publishing, OCLC 492063506; republished Toronto, Ont.: William Briggs, 1910s, OCLC 225424669, page 69:
- 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.
- 1911, Arnold Bennett, The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns, London: Methuen Publishing, OCLC 492063506; republished Toronto, Ont.: William Briggs, 1910s, OCLC 225424669, page 69:
- (transitive) To dress (stone) with a pick or pointed instrument.
- (transitive, textile manufacturing) To beat yarn in order to break up slugs and align the threads.
- (transitive, obsolete) To clothe or cover up.
Translations
To prevent (something) from being successful
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Etymology 2
See Scotch.
Usage notes
- The use of scotch rather than Scottish (or Scots) is generally limited to a few specific cases, such as scotch plaid, Scotch whisky, Scotch broth, etc. It may be considered incorrect usage in other combinations. It is usually capitalised Scotch.
Noun
scotch (plural scotches)
- Whisky of Scottish origin.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess:
- A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’
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Etymology 3
From 3M's Scotch tape.
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /skɔtʃ/
Etymology 2
From 3M's Scotch tape. Genericized trademark.
Derived terms
Further reading
- “scotch” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
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