fratch

English

Etymology

From Middle English fracchen (“to make a harsh or strident noise; creak”). Cognate with Scots fratch (“to quarrel”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɹæt͡ʃ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

fratch (plural fratches)

1. (UK) A dispute, a quarrel; a fight or brawl.
   • 1854, Charles Dickens, “read online”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC:

     -I ha' never had no fratch afore, sin ever I were born, wi' any o' my like; Gonnows I ha' none now that's o' my makin'.

Derived terms

• fratchety
• fratchy

Verb

fratch (third-person singular simple present fratches, present participle fratching, simple past and past participle fratched)

1. (UK, Yorkshire) To argue, to quarrel; to fight.
   • 1915, Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr, The Measure of a Man:

     "I am just talking to relieve myself, John. I know better than to fratch with anyone—at least I think I do."

References

• Middle English Dictionary, Hans Kurath, 2001, University of Michigan Press.
• Concise Dictionary of English Etymology, Walter W. Skeat, 1998, Wordsworth Editions Ltd.