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Webster 1913 Edition

Scotch

Scotch

,
Adj.
[Cf.
Scottish
.]
Of or pertaining to Scotland, its language, or its inhabitants; Scottish.
Scotch broom
(Bot.)
,
the
Cytisus scoparius
. See
Broom
.
–
Scotch dipper
, or
Scotch duck
(Zool.)
,
the bufflehead; – called also
Scotch teal
, and
Scotchman
.
–
Scotch fiddle
,
the itch.
[Low]
Sir W. Scott.
–
Scotch mist
,
a coarse, dense mist, like fine rain.
–
Scotch nightingale
(Zool.)
,
the sedge warbler.
[Prov. Eng.]
–
Scotch pebble
.
See under
pebble
.
–
Scotch pine
(Bot.)
See
Riga fir
.
–
Scotch thistle
(Bot.)
,
a species of thistle (
Onopordon acanthium
); – so called from its being the national emblem of the Scotch.

Scotch

,
Noun.
1.
The dialect or dialects of English spoken by the people of Scotland.
2.
Collectively, the people of Scotland.

Scotch

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Scotched
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Scotching
.]
[Cf. Prov. E.
scote
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
.]
[Written also
scoatch
,
scoat
.]
To shoulder up; to prop or block with a wedge, chock, etc., as a wheel, to prevent its rolling or slipping.

Scotch

,
Noun.
A chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping;
as, a
scotch
for a wheel or a log on inclined ground
.

Scotch

,
Verb.
T.
[Probably the same word as
scutch
; cf. Norw.
skoka
,
skoko
, a swingle for flax; perhaps akin to E.
shake
.]
To cut superficially; to wound; to score.
We have
scotched
the snake, not killed it.
Shakespeare
Scotched collops
(Cookery)
,
a dish made of pieces of beef or veal cut thin, or minced, beaten flat, and stewed with onion and other condiments; – called also
Scotch collops
.
[Written also
scotcht collops
.]

Scotch

,
Noun.
A slight cut or incision; a score.
Walton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Scotch

SCOTCH

, v.t.
To support, as a wheel, by placing some obstacle to prevent its rolling. Our wagoners and cartmen scot the wheels of their wagons and carts, when in ascending a hill they stop to give their team rest, or for other purpose. In Connecticut, I have generally heard this word pronounced scot, in Massachusetts, scotch.

Definition 2024

Scotch

Scotch

See also: scotch

English

Noun

Scotch ‎(countable and uncountable, plural Scotches)

  1. (as a plural noun, the Scotch) The people of Scotland.
    The Scotch are a hardy bunch.
  2. (uncountable) Whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley.
    Paul has drunk a lot of Scotch.
  3. (countable) Any variety of Scotch.
    My favorite Scotches are Glenlivet and Laphroaig.
  4. (countable) A glass of Scotch.
    Gimme a Scotch.

Usage notes

  • Use of Scotch to refer to the people of Scotland is currently deprecated by the Scottish.

Synonyms

Translations

Proper noun

Scotch

  1. The Scottish dialect of English, or the Scots language.
    • 1932, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song, Polygon 2006 (A Scots Quair), p. 156:
      But Rob was just saying what a shame it was that folk should be shamed nowadays to speak Scotch – or they called it Scots if they did, the split-tongued sourocks!
  2. (chess, informal, the Scotch) The opening 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4.
    Karpov played the Scotch against Anand.

Synonyms

Translations

Adjective

Scotch ‎(not comparable)

  1. (dated) Of or from Scotland; Scottish.
    • 1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy:
      our landlord informed us, with a sort of apologetic tone, that there was a Scotch gentleman to dine with us.

Synonyms

Usage notes

  • The Scottish dislike the term Scotch and consider it offensive. The more appropriate adjectives are Scottish or Scots.

Derived terms

scotch

scotch

See also: Scotch

English

Noun

scotch ‎(plural scotches)

  1. A surface cut or abrasion.
  2. A line drawn on the ground, as one used in playing hopscotch.
  3. A block for a wheel or other round object; a chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping.
    • 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 4
      He was like the scotch in the smooth, happy machinery of the home. And he was always aware of this fall of silence on his entry, the shutting off of life, the unwelcome.
    a scotch for a wheel or a log on inclined ground‎
Translations
Derived terms

Verb

scotch ‎(third-person singular simple present scotches, present participle scotching, simple past and past participle scotched)

  1. (transitive) To cut or score; to wound superficially.
    • Shakespeare Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2
      We have scotched the snake, not killed it.
  2. (transitive) To prevent (something) from being successful.
    The rain scotched his plans of going to the beach.
  3. (transitive) To debunk or discredit an idea or rumor.
    The prime minister scotched rumors of his resignation.
  4. (transitive) To block a wheel or other round object.
    The workers stopped the rig on an incline and scotched the wheels.
  5. (transitive, textile manufacturing) To beat yarn in order to break up slugs and align the threads.
    Yarn is scotched immediately after it has been dried and while it is still warm.
  6. (transitive) To dress (stone) with a pick or pointed instrument.
  7. (obsolete, transitive) To clothe or cover up.
Synonyms
Translations

Etymology 2

See Scotch.

Adjective

scotch ‎(comparative more scotch, superlative most scotch)

  1. Of Scottish origin.
Usage notes
  • The use of scotch rather than Scottish (or Scots) is generally limited to a few specific cases, such as scotch plaid, Scotch whisky, Scotch broth, etc. It may be considered incorrect usage in other combinations. It is usually capitalised Scotch.

Noun

scotch ‎(plural scotches)

  1. Whisky of Scottish origin.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess:
      A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
         ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’

Etymology 3

From 3M's Scotch tape.

Noun

scotch ‎(uncountable)

  1. Scotch tape

Verb

scotch ‎(third-person singular simple present scotches, present participle scotching, simple past and past participle scotched)

  1. (transitive, Australian rhyming slang) to rape

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /skɔtʃ/

Etymology 1

From English scotch.

Noun

scotch m ‎(plural scotchs)

  1. scotch (whisky)

Etymology 2

From 3M's Scotch tape.

Noun

scotch m ‎(uncountable)

  1. Scotch tape, sticky tape
Derived terms

Italian

Noun

scotch m ‎(invariable)

  1. scotch (whiskey)
  2. adhesive tape

Synonyms

(whiskey): nastro adesivo

Etymology

Contraction of Scottish.

The tape brand is supposedly after its cheapness (as the Scottish were stereotyped as cheap).

The chess opening is supposedly after its having been played in a correspondence game between Edinburgh, Scotland, and London, England.

Pronunciation

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