scotch
scotch Lexical Profile
scotch Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley, or a glass of this beverage (often capitalized).
"He poured himself a small glass of single-malt scotch after dinner."
A wedge, block, or chock placed under a wheel, barrel, or rounded object to prevent it from rolling or slipping.
"The mechanic placed a wooden scotch beneath the rear tire before jacking up the truck."
A superficial cut, score, or scratch, or a line drawn on the ground as used in games like hopscotch.
"The children drew a chalk scotch across the pavement to mark the starting boundary."
• adjective
Of, relating to, or characteristic of Scotland, its people, or certain traditional food and drink items originating there (frequently capitalized).
"The bakery sells freshly made Scotch pies and shortbread every morning."
• verb
To decisively put an end to, frustrate, or quash (especially a rumor, plan, or idea).
"The company issued a formal statement to scotch rumors of an impending merger."
To cut, score, or wound superficially without killing.
"The gardener accidentally scotched the bark of the young sapling with the pruning shears."
To block or secure (a wheel, log, or cylinder) with a wedge or chock to keep it from rolling.
"They scotched the heavy wagon wheels with stones before unharnessing the horses on the slope."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the people or culture of Scotland, 'Scottish' or 'Scots' is strongly preferred in modern usage; 'Scotch' is now generally restricted to specific traditional food and drink products such as Scotch whisky, Scotch broth, and Scotch eggs. As a verb meaning 'to put an end to', it derives from an unrelated root meaning to cut or score.
• Rhymes for scotch
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The verb meaning 'to decisively put an end to' evolved from Middle English 'scocchen' (to cut or score), famously popularized by an editorial emendation in Shakespeare's Macbeth ('We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it'). The noun and adjective relating to Scotland arose in the 16th century as a contracted form of 'Scottish'.