hatch
hatch Lexical Profile
hatch Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An opening of restricted size in a floor, roof, wall, or the deck of a ship or aircraft, or the hinged cover over such an opening.
"The sailors secured the main cargo hatch before the storm arrived."
The act of emerging from an egg, or a brood of young animals that have emerged at the same time.
"The spring hatch of mayflies attracted dozens of trout to the surface of the river."
An informal term for a hatchback automobile featuring a rear door that swings upward.
"She bought a compact five-door hatch that was easy to park in the city."
• verb
To emerge from an egg, or to cause a young animal to emerge from an egg by incubating it.
"The sea turtle eggs take approximately two months to hatch in the warm sand."
To devise, formulate, or conspire a plot, plan, or scheme, often in secret.
"The siblings met in the attic to hatch a surprise party plan for their parents."
To shade an area with closely drawn parallel lines in drawing, engraving, or cartography.
"The illustrator used a fine pen to hatch the shadowed side of the mountain."
• Rhymes for hatch
Word Origin & Etymology
The word represents a convergence of three distinct historical roots: the door or opening sense comes from Old English 'hæcc' (grating or half-door); the egg-incubating sense derives from Middle English 'hacchen', related to German 'hecken' (to breed); and the shading sense comes from Old French 'hacher' (to chop or engrave).