zilch
See also: Zilch
Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From American English Zilch, a surname for a (fictional) insignificant person (e.g. Joe Zilch or the Mr. Zilch found in the humour magazine Ballyhoo in 1931; compare John Doe). Possibly invented to sound amusing, and not related to the real (but rare) German surname Zilch.[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: zĭlch, IPA(key): /zɪltʃ/
- Rhymes: -ɪltʃ
Noun[edit]
zilch (countable and uncountable, plural zilches)
- (informal, uncountable) Nothing.
- 1991, Judith Arnold, One Good Turn, page 104:
- "If the homeless wind up with zilch," James retorted, veiling his indignation behind a malevolent smile, "it's because they deserve zilch."
- 1991, Judith Arnold, One Good Turn, page 104:
- (informal, countable) A person who is unimportant or lacks character; a nobody.
Synonyms[edit]
Translations[edit]
(informal) nothing
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