SCOTCH

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Scotch mean? 

• SCOTCH (noun)
  The noun SCOTCH has 2 senses:

1. a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)

2. whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still

  Familiarity information: SCOTCH used as a noun is rare.

• SCOTCH (adjective)
  The adjective SCOTCH has 2 senses:

1. of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language. In this sense, 'Scotch' is in disfavor with Scottish people and is used primarily outside Scotland except in such frozen phrases as 'Scotch broth' or 'Scotch whiskey' etc.

2. avoiding waste

  Familiarity information: SCOTCH used as an adjective is rare.

• SCOTCH (verb)
  The verb SCOTCH has 2 senses:

1. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

2. make a small cut or score into

  Familiarity information: SCOTCH used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCOTCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

score; scotch

Hypernyms ("scotch" is a kind of...):

dent; incision; prick; scratch; slit (a depression scratched or carved into a surface)

Derivation:

scotch (make a small cut or score into)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

malt whiskey; malt whisky; Scotch; Scotch malt whiskey; Scotch malt whisky; Scotch whiskey; Scotch whisky

Hypernyms ("Scotch" is a kind of...):

whiskey; whisky (a liquor made from fermented mash of grain)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "Scotch"):

Drambuie (a sweet Scotch whisky liqueur)

Holonyms ("Scotch" is a substance of...):

Rob Roy (a manhattan cocktail made with Scotch whiskey)

• SCOTCH (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language. In this sense, 'Scotch' is in disfavor with Scottish people and is used primarily outside Scotland except in such frozen phrases as 'Scotch broth' or 'Scotch whiskey' etc.

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

Scotch; Scots; Scottish

Context example:

'Scotch' is in disfavor with Scottish people and is used primarily outside Scotland except in such frozen phrases as 'Scotch broth' or 'Scotch whiskey' or 'Scotch plaid'

Pertainym:

Scotland (one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Avoiding waste

Synonyms:

economical; frugal; scotch; sparing; stinting

Context example:

'scotch' is used only informally

Similar:

thrifty (careful and diligent in the use of resources)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

• SCOTCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they scotch    ... he / she / it scotches   
Past simple: scotched   
Past participle: scotched   
-ing form: scotching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

baffle; bilk; cross; foil; frustrate; queer; scotch; spoil; thwart

Context example:

foil your opponent

Hypernyms (to "scotch" is one way to...):

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent (keep from happening or arising; make impossible)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scotch"):

disappoint; let down (fail to meet the hopes or expectations of)

dash (destroy or break)

short-circuit (hamper the progress of; impede)

ruin (destroy or cause to fail)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a small cut or score into

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "scotch" is one way to...):

mark; nock; score (make small marks into the surface of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scotch (a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally))

 Context examples 

“Well, the sight of me is good for sore eyes, as the Scotch say,” replied Steerforth, “and so is the sight of you, Daisy, in full bloom. How are you, my Bacchanal?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"No Scotch," Brissenden announced on his return.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Ma foi! they make as much louster as a Scotch army, where every man fills himself with girdle-cakes, and sits up all night to blow upon the toodle-pipe.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was afraid that Thornton would pass out of his life as Perrault and François and the Scotch half-breed had passed out.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

"Well, Mr. Malone, from all I hear, you seem to be doing very well," said he in his kindly Scotch accent.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Just beyond it is a nice little grove of Scotch firs, and I used to be very fond of strolling down there, for trees are always a neighbourly kind of things.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He isn't one of the cool, stiff Englishmen, but is rather peppery, for he has Scotch blood in him, as one might guess from his bonnie blue eyes.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by a lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, said to her: Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I had rather be with you, he said, in your solitary rambles, than with these Scotch people, whom I do not know; hasten, then, my dear friend, to return, that I may again feel myself somewhat at home, which I cannot do in your absence.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)