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welch - 10 dictionary results

welch

[welch, welsh]
–verb (used without object) Informal.
welsh.

welcher, noun

Welch

[welch, welsh]
–adjective, noun
Welsh.

Welch

[welch, welsh]
–noun
1. James, born 1940, U.S. poet and novelist.
2. Joseph Nye, 1890–1960, U.S. trial lawyer.
3. Robert, Jr., 1899–1985, U.S. candy manufacturer: founder of the John Birch Society 1958.
4. William Henry, 1850–1934, U.S. medical pathologist and educator.

welsh

[welsh, welch]
–verb (used without object) Informal: Sometimes Offensive.
1. to cheat by failing to pay a gambling debt: You aren't going to welsh on me, are you?
2. to go back on one's word: He welshed on his promise to help in the campaign.
Also, welch.


Origin:
1855–60; perh. special use of Welsh


welsher, noun

Welsh

[welsh, welch]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to Wales, its people, or their language.
–noun
2. the inhabitants of Wales and their descendants elsewhere.
3. Also called Cymric, Kymric. the Celtic language of Wales.
4. one of a white, lop-eared breed of swine of Welsh origin that produces a large amount of lean meat.
Also, Welch.


Origin:
bef. 900; ME Welische, OE Welisc, deriv. of Walh Briton, foreigner (cf. L Volcae a Gallic tribe); c. G welsch foreign, Italian
welch   (wělch)   
v.  Variant of welsh.
welsh   (wělsh, wělch)   
intr.v.   welshed also welched, welsh·ing also welch·ing, welsh·es also welch·es Informal
  1. To swindle a person by not paying a debt or wager.
  2. To fail to fulfill an obligation.

[Origin unknown.]
welsh'er n.

Welch

Welch\, a. See Welsh. [R.]

welch 
1857, racing slang, "to refuse or avoid payment of money laid as a bet," probably a disparaging use of the national name Welsh.

Welch (wělch, wělsh), William Henry. 1850-1934.

American pathologist and bacteriologist who discovered the bacteria that causes gas gangrene.

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