scotch

See also: Scotch

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /skɒtʃ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /skɑtʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒtʃ

Etymology 1

From Middle English scocchen (“to cut”), perhaps from Anglo-Norman escocher (“to notch”), from es- (“intensive prefix”) (from Latin ex-) + Old French coche (“notch”).

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

Derived terms

• hopscotch

Translations

a surface cut

• Russian: надре́з (ru) m (nadréz), насе́чка (ru) f (naséčka)

a block for a wheel or other round object

• Russian: тормозной (tormoznoj) башма́к (bašmák) (tormoznóy bašmák) m, клин (ru) m (klin)

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.

   • 1911, Arnold Bennett, The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns, London: Methuen Publishing, OCLC 492063506; republished Toronto, Ont.: William Briggs, 1910s, OCLC 225424669, page 69:

     The pantechnicon was running away. It had perceived the wrath to come and was fleeing. Its guardians had evidently left it imperfectly scotched or braked, and it had got loose.

5. (transitive) To dress (stone) with a pick or pointed instrument.
6. (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. [1]

7. (transitive, obsolete) To clothe or cover up.

Synonyms

• (prevent (something) from being successful): foil, put the kibosh on, thwart
• (block a wheel): chock, block

Translations

To prevent (something) from being successful

• German: ^{(please verify)} blockieren (de), ^{(please verify)} verhindern (de), ^{(please verify)} durchkreuzen

• Russian: пресечь (ru) (presečʹ), положи́ть коне́ц (ru) (položítʹ konéc), прекрати́ть (ru) (prekratítʹ)

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^[2]:

     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

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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. Genericized trademark.

Noun

scotch m (uncountable)

1. Scotch tape, sticky tape

   Synonyms: papier collant, ruban adhésif

Derived terms

• scotcher

Further reading

• “scotch” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɔt͡ʃ/

Noun

scotch m (invariable)

1. scotch (whiskey)
2. adhesive tape

Synonyms

• (adhesive tape): nastro adesivo