scotch

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A block for a wheel or other round object; a chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping.

   A scotch for a wheel or a log on inclined ground.

2. 2
   verb

   To cut or score; to wound superficially.

   We have scotched the snake, not killed it.

3. 3
   verb

   To prevent (something) from being successful.

   The rain scotched his plans of going to the beach.

4. 4
   verb

   To debunk or discredit an idea or rumor.

   The prime minister scotched rumors of his resignation.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Scotch in the sense “gash, cut, or render temporarily harmless” comes from Old French coche, “notch.” Its best-known use in the phrase “scotch the snake” was established by later editions of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, replacing the original scorched, which then meant “slashed with a knife.”

From Middle English scocchen (“to cut”), perhaps from Anglo-Norman escocher (“to notch”), from es- (“intensive prefix”) (from Latin ex-) + Old French coche (“notch”). Not related to Scotch.

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary