Scotch definition | Dictionary.com

scotch

1 [skoch]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to put a definite end to; crush; stamp out; foil: to scotch a rumor; to scotch a plan.

2.	to cut, gash, or score.

3.	to injure so as to make harmless.

4.	to block or prop with a wedge or chock.

–noun

5.	a cut, gash, or score.

6.	a block or wedge put under a wheel, barrel, etc., to prevent slipping.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME scocche (n. and v.), perh. b. score and notch (> AF escocher)

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Sponsored Links Single Malt Whiskey
Penderyn Single Malt Welsh Whiskey. Find Your Local Retailer Here!
www.Welsh-Whisky.co.uk/Whiskey

Buy 3M Products
Save on Wide Variety of 3M Products Great Deals on Bulk Qty. Order Now!
MSCDirect.com/3M

Scotch
Bargain Prices. Smart Deals. Save on Scotch!
Shopzilla.com

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

scotch

2 [skoch]

–verb (used with object), noun Masonry.

scutch (defs. 2, 4).

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch

[skoch]

–adjective

1.	of Scottish origin; resembling or regarded as characteristic of Scotland or the Scottish people (used outside Scotland): Scotch plaid.

2.	Sometimes Offensive. Scottish (def. 1).

3.	(usually lowercase) Informal. frugal; provident; thrifty.

–noun

4.	(used with a plural verb) Sometimes Offensive. the Scottish people; Scots.

5.	(often lowercase) Scotch whisky.

6.	Sometimes Offensive. Scots (def. 1).

Origin:
1585–95; syncopated var. of Scottish

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

scotch¹ (skŏch) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. scotched, scotch·ing, scotch·es

To put an abrupt end to: The prime minister scotched the rumors of her illness with a public appearance.
To injure so as to render harmless.
To cut or score.

A surface cut or abrasion.
A line drawn on the ground, as one used in playing hopscotch.

[Middle English scocchen, to cut, perhaps from Anglo-Norman escocher, to notch : es-, intensive pref. (from Latin ex-; see ex-) + Old French coche, notch (probably from Latin coccum, scarlet oak berry, from Greek kokkos).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

scotch²   (skŏch) Pronunciation Key
tr.v.   scotched, scotch·ing, scotch·es
To block (a wheel, for example) with a prop to prevent rolling or slipping.
n.   A block or wedge used as a prop behind or under an object likely to roll.

[Origin unknown.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch (skŏch) Pronunciation Key
n.

(used with a pl. verb) The people of Scotland.
Scots.
Scotch whisky.

adj.

Scottish. See Usage Note at Scottish.
Offensive Frugal with one's money.

[Contraction of Scottish.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
scotch (v.)

"stamp out, crush," 1825, earlier "make harmless for a time" (1798; a sense that derives from the reading of "Macbeth" III.ii.13), from scocchen "to cut, score, gash" (c.1412), perhaps from Anglo-Fr. escocher, O.Fr. cocher "to notch, nick," from coche "a notch, groove," probably from L. coccum "berry of the scarlet oak," which appears notched, from Gk. kokkos.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Scotch (adj.)

"of Scotland," 1591, contraction of Scottish. Disdained by the Scottish because of the many insulting and pejorative formations made from it by the English (e.g. Scotch attorney, a Jamaica term from 1864 for strangler vines). As a noun, elliptical for Scotch whisky, it is attested from 1778. Scotch-Irish is from 1876; more properly Scots-Irish (1972), from Scots (c.1352), the older adj., which is from Scottis, the northern variant of Scottish. Scotch Tape was said to be so called because at first it had adhesive only on the edges (to make it easier to remove as a masking tape in car paint jobs), which was interpreted as a sign of cheapness on the part of the manufacturers.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

scotch
adjective
1.	of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language; "Scots Gaelic"; "the Scots community in New York"; "'Scottish' tends to be the more formal term as in 'The Scottish Symphony' or 'Scottish authors' or 'Scottish mountains'"; "'Scotch' is in disfavor with Scottish people and is used primarily outside Scotland except in such frozen phrases as 'Scotch broth' or 'Scotch whiskey' or 'Scotch plaid'" [syn: Scots]
2.	avoiding waste; "an economical meal"; "an economical shopper"; "a frugal farmer"; "a frugal lunch"; "a sparing father and a spending son"; "sparing in their use of heat and light"; "stinting in bestowing gifts"; "thrifty because they remember the great Depression"; "'scotch' is used only informally" [syn: economical]
noun
1.	a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally) [syn: score]
2.	whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still
verb
1.	hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent" [syn: thwart]
2.	make a small cut or score into

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch Plains, NJ (CDP, FIPS 66090)
Location: (40.638252, -74.373914)
Population (2000): 22,732 (8,479 housing units)
Area: 9.080796 sq mi (land), 0.013677 sq mi (water)
Zip code(s): 07076

Scotch Plains, NJ (township, FIPS 03966060)
Location: (40.638252, -74.373914)
Population (2000): 22,732 (8,479 housing units)
Area: 9.080796 sq mi (land), 0.013677 sq mi (water)
Zip code(s): 07076

Scotch Grove, IA (township, FIPS 10593765)
Location: (42.157436, -91.065897)
Population (2000): 446 (170 housing units)
Area: 36.301935 sq mi (land), 0.000000 sq mi (water)

Scotch Irish, NC (township, FIPS 15992860)
Location: (35.808949, -80.668910)
Population (2000): 1,751 (673 housing units)
Area: 35.186024 sq mi (land), 0.037439 sq mi (water)

Scotch Cap, SD (township, FIPS 10557900)
Location: (45.501850, -102.642824)
Population (2000): 34 (16 housing units)
Area: 35.447038 sq mi (land), 0.457517 sq mi (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
Cite This Source

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch

Scotch\, a. [Cf. Scottish.] Of or pertaining to Scotland, its language, or its inhabitants; Scottish.

Scotch broom (Bot.), the Cytisus scoparius. See Broom.

Scotch dipper, or Scotch duck (Zo["o]l.), the bufflehead; -- called also Scotch teal, and Scotchman.

Scotch fiddle, the itch. [Low] --Sir W. Scott.

Scotch mist, a coarse, dense mist, like fine rain.

Scotch nightingale (Zo["o]l.), the sedge warbler. [Prov. Eng.]

Scotch pebble. See under pebble.

Scotch pine (Bot.) See Riga fir.

Scotch thistle (Bot.), a species of thistle (Onopordon acanthium); -- so called from its being the national emblem of the Scotch.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch

Scotch\, n. 1. The dialect or dialects of English spoken by the people of Scotland.

2. Collectively, the people of Scotland.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch

Scotch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scotched; p. pr. & vb. n. Scotching.] [Cf. Prov. E. scote a prop, and Walloon ascot a prop, ascoter to prop, F. accoter, also Armor. skoaz the shoulder, skoazia to shoulder up, to prop, to support, W. ysgwydd a shoulder, ysgwyddo to shoulder. Cf. Scoat.] [Written also scoatch, scoat.] To shoulder up; to prop or block with a wedge, chock, etc., as a wheel, to prevent its rolling or slipping.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch

Scotch\, n. A chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping; as, a scotch for a wheel or a log on inclined ground.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch

Scotch\, v. t. [Probably the same word as scutch; cf. Norw. skoka, skoko, a swingle for flax; perhaps akin to E. shake.] To cut superficially; to wound; to score.

We have scotched the snake, not killed it. --Shak.

Scotched collops (Cookery), a dish made of pieces of beef or veal cut thin, or minced, beaten flat, and stewed with onion and other condiments; -- called also Scotch collops. [Written also scotcht collops.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scotch

Scotch\, n. A slight cut or incision; a score. --Walton.

Sponsored Links Single Malt Whiskey
Penderyn Single Malt Welsh Whiskey. Find Your Local Retailer Here!
www.Welsh-Whisky.co.uk/Whiskey

Buy 3M Products
Save on Wide Variety of 3M Products Great Deals on Bulk Qty. Order Now!
MSCDirect.com/3M

Scotch
Bargain Prices. Smart Deals. Save on Scotch!
Shopzilla.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Link to Us · Report Ad · Contact Us