Meaning of scotch in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /skɑtʃ/

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  1. Verb

    scotch

    Etymology

    early 17th century (as a noun): of unknown origin; perhaps related to skate. The sense ‘render temporarily harmless’ is based on an emendation of Shakespeare's Macbethiii. ii. 13 as ‘We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it’, originally understood as a use of scotch; the sense ‘put an end to’ (early 19th century) results from the influence on this of the notion of wedging or blocking something so as to render it inoperative

    Definitions

    1. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

    Examples

    • « What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge »
    • « foil your opponent »
  2. 2. make a small cut or score into

  3. Classifying Adjective

    scotch

    Definitions

    1. avoiding waste

    Examples

    • « 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 De »

    Synonyms

  4. Noun

    scotch

    Etymology

    late 16th century: contraction of Scottish

    Definitions

    1. a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
  5. 2. whiskey distilled in Scotland

    Examples

    • « especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still »

  6. Qualitative Adjective

    Scotch

    Definitions

    1. of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language

    Examples

    • « Scots gaelic »
    • « the Scots community in New York »
    • « 'Scottish' tends to be the more formal term as in 'The Scottish Symphony' or 'Scottis »