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culches

 - 2 dictionary results

culch

  [kuhlch]
Use culches in a Sentence
–noun
1. the stones, old shells, etc., forming an oyster bed and furnishing points of attachment for the spawn of oysters.
2. the spawn of oysters.
3. Also, sculch, scultch. Eastern New England. rubbish; refuse.
–verb (used with object)
4. to prepare (an oyster bed) with culch.
Also, cultch.

Origin:
1660–70; perh. metathetic var. of clutch; but note OF culche couch
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To culches
culch or cultch   (kŭlch)   
n.  

  1. A natural bed for oysters, consisting of gravel or crushed shells to which the oyster spawn may adhere.

  2. The spawn of the oyster.

  3. also scultch or sculch (skŭlch) New England Clean trash or rubbish, such as string, paper, and cloth: "We always had a culch box around" (New Hampshire informant in DARE).

  4. A person or thing not highly regarded.


[Perhaps ultimately from Old French culche, couch; see couch.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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