to put an end to; crush: bad weather scotched our plans to cut or score
a gash; scratch a line marked down, as for hopscotch
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
Scotch /skɑtʃ/USA pronunciation
adj.
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [Sometimes Offensive.]of or relating to Scotland.
n.
- [plural* the + ~;
used with a plural verb][Sometimes Offensive.]the Scottish people. - [uncountable* scotch] whiskey made in Scotland.
scotch1
(skoch),USA pronunciation v.t.
n.
scotch2 (skoch),USA pronunciation v.t., n. [Masonry.]
Scotch (skoch),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
- to put a definite end to;
crush;
stamp out;
foil:to scotch a rumor; to scotch a plan. - to cut, gash, or score.
- to injure so as to make harmless.
- Buildingto block or prop with a wedge or chock.
n.
- a cut, gash, or score.
- Buildinga block or wedge put under a wheel, barrel, etc., to prevent slipping.
- late Middle English scocche (noun, nominal and verb, verbal), perh. blend of, blended score and notch (
Anglo-French escocher) 1375–1425
scotch2 (skoch),USA pronunciation v.t., n. [Masonry.]
- Buildingscutch (defs. 2, 4).
Scotch (skoch),USA pronunciation adj.
- Language Varietiesof Scottish origin;
resembling or regarded as characteristic of Scotland or the Scottish people (used outside Scotland):Scotch plaid. - Slang Terms[Sometimes Offensive.]Scottish (def. 1).
- (usually l.c.) [Informal.]frugal;
provident;
thrifty.
n.
- Slang Terms, Language Varieties(used with a pl. v.) [Sometimes Offensive.]the Scottish people;
Scots. - Wine(often l.c.) See Scotch whisky.
- Slang Terms, Language Varieties[Sometimes Offensive.]Scots (def. 1).
- syncopated variant of Scottish 1585–95
- The natives of Scotland refer to themselves as Scots or, in the singular, Scot, Scotsman, or Scotswoman. The related adjectives are Scottish or, less commonly, Scots. Scotch as a noun or adjective is objected to except when used of whisky and in established phrases like Scotch egg and Scotch pine. In the United States, Scotch is often used where the Scots themselves, or some Americans of Scottish descent, would prefer Scottish or Scots. The term Scotch-Irish is standard in the United States for the descendants of the Scots of Ulster who immigrated to America beginning in the 18th century.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- (transitive)
to block, prop, or prevent from moving with or as if with a wedge
a block or wedge to prevent motion
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- another word for Scottish
the Scots or their language
- Also called: Scotch whisky
whisky distilled esp from fermented malted barley and made in Scotland
'Scotch hearth' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):