What is "scotch"

Scotch \Scotch\, v. 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.
--Shak.

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 \Scotch\, n.

1. The dialect or dialects of English spoken by the people of Scotland.

2. Collectively, the people of Scotland.

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

Scotch \Scotch\, a. [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 (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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 \Scotch\, v. 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.] To shoulder up; to prop or block with a wedge, chock, etc., as a wheel, to prevent its rolling or slipping.

Scotch \Scotch\, n. A slight cut or incision; a score.
--Walton.

"of Scotland," 1590s, contraction of Scottish. Disdained by the Scottish because of the many insulting and pejorative formations made from it by the English (such as Scotch greys "lice;" Scotch attorney, a Jamaica term from 1864 for strangler vines).\n

\nScotch-Irish is from 1744 (adj.); 1789 (n.); more properly Scots-Irish (1966), from Scots (mid-14c.), the older adjective, which is from Scottis, the northern variant of Scottish. Scots (adj.) was used in Scottish until 18c., then Scotch became vernacular, but in mid-19c. there was a reaction against it. Scotch Tape was said to be so called because at first it had adhesive only on the edges (to make it easier to remove as a masking tape in car paint jobs), which was interpreted as a sign of cheapness on the part of the manufacturers.

"stamp out, crush," 1825, earlier "make harmless for a time" (1798; a sense that derives from an uncertain reading of "Macbeth" III.ii.13), from scocchen "to cut, score, gash, make an incision" (early 15c.), of unknown origin, perhaps [Barnhart] from Anglo-French escocher, Old French cocher "to notch, nick," from coche "a notch, groove," perhaps from Latin coccum "berry of the scarlet oak," which appears notched, from Greek kokkos. Related: Scotched; scotching.

1778, elliptical for Scotch whisky. See Scotch (adj.).

"incision, cut, score, gash," mid-15c., related to scotch (v.).

Etymology 1 n. 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. vb. 1 (context transitive English) To cut or score; to wound superficially. 2 (context transitive English) To prevent (something) from being successful. 3 (context transitive English) To debunk or discredit an idea or rumor. 4 (context transitive English) To block a wheel or other round object. 5 (context transitive textile manufacturing English) To beat yarn in order to break up slugs and align the threads. 6 (context transitive English) To dress (stone) with a pick or pointed instrument. 7 (context obsolete transitive English) To clothe or cover up. Etymology 2

1. Of Scottish origin. n. whisky of Scottish origin. Etymology 3

   n. Scotch tape v

2. (context transitive Australian rhyming slang English) to rape

1. n. a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally) [syn: score]

2. whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still [syn: Scotch whiskey, Scotch whisky, malt whiskey, malt whisky]

1. v. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent" [syn: thwart, queer, spoil, foil, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilk]

2. make a small cut or score into

Scotch may refer to:

• Scotch (adjective), a largely-obsolescent adjective meaning "having to do with Scotland"
• Scotch whisky, a whisky made in Scotland, which outside Scotland is commonly abbreviated as "Scotch"

Scotch is an adjective meaning "of Scotland". The modern usage in Scotland is Scottish or Scots, and the word "Scotch" is only applied to specific products, mostly food or drink, such as Scotch whisky, Scotch pie, Scotch broth, and Scotch eggs. "Scotch" applied to people is widely considered pejorative in Scotland, reflecting old Anglo-Scottish antagonisms, but it is still occasionally used in England, though the usage is considered old-fashioned, and Ireland, and is in common use in North America.

The verb to scotch is unrelated to the adjective. It derives from Anglo-French escocher meaning "to notch, nick", from coche, "a notch, groove", extended in English to mean "to put an abrupt end to", with the forms "scotched", "scotching", "scotches". For example: "The prime minister scotched the rumours of her illness by making a public appearance." Also, in the traditional children's game of "hopscotch", known as "peevers" in Scotland, it refers to the lines one hops over.

Scotch were an Italo disco group during the 1980s.