scotch Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
    score.
  2. noun whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still
    Scotch malt whisky; Scotch malt whiskey; Scotch whisky; malt whiskey; malt whisky; Scotch whiskey.
  3. verb hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
    thwart; bilk; cross; frustrate; baffle; foil; spoil; queer.
    • What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge
    • foil your opponent
  4. verb make a small cut or score into
  5. adjective of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language
    Scots; Scottish.
    • 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'
  6. adjective satellite avoiding waste
    stinting; frugal; sparing; economical.
    • 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

WordNet

Scotch adjective
Etymology
Cf. Scottish.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to Scotland, its language, or its inhabitants; Scottish.
Scotch noun
Definitions
  1. The dialect or dialects of English spoken by the people of Scotland.
  2. Collectively, the people of Scotland.
Scotch transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Prov. E. scole 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.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Scotched ; present participle & verbal noun Scotching
Definitions
  1. To shoulder up; to prop or block with a wedge, chock, etc., as a wheel, to prevent its rolling or slipping.
Scotch noun
Definitions
  1. A chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping; as, a scotch for a wheel or a log on inclined ground.
Scotch transitive verb
Etymology
Probably the same word as scutch; cf. Norw. skoka, skoko, a swingle for flax; perhaps akin to E. shake.
Definitions
  1. To cut superficially; to wound; to score.
    We have scotched the snake, not killed it. Shak.
Scotch noun
Definitions
  1. A slight cut or incision; a score. Walton.
Scotch transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To clothe or cover up. Obs.

Webster 1913