scotch1

[skoch] /skɒtʃ/
verb (used with object)
1.
to put a definite end to; crush; stamp out; foil:
to scotch a rumor; to scotch a plan.
2.
to cut, gash, or score.
3.
to injure so as to make harmless.
4.
to block or prop with a wedge or chock.
noun
5.
a cut, gash, or score.
6.
a block or wedge put under a wheel, barrel, etc., to prevent slipping.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English scocche (noun and v.), perhaps blend of score and notch (> Anglo-French escocher)

scotch2

[skoch] /skɒtʃ/
verb (used with object), noun, Masonry.
1.
scutch (defs 2, 4).

Scotch

[skoch] /skɒtʃ/
adjective
1.
of Scottish origin; resembling or regarded as characteristic of Scotland or the Scottish people (used outside Scotland):
Scotch plaid.
2.
Sometimes Offensive. Scottish (def 1).
3.
(usually lowercase) Informal. frugal; provident; thrifty.
noun
4.
(used with a plural verb) Sometimes Offensive. the Scottish people; Scots.
5.
(often lowercase) Scotch whisky.
6.
Sometimes Offensive. Scots (def 1).
Origin
1585-95; syncopated variant of Scottish
Can be confused
Scot, Scotch, Scottish (see usage note at the current entry)
Usage note
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.
Examples from the web for scotch
  • The upper economic strata dull the stimulation by drinking plenty of scotch whiskey, which also leads to inefficiency at work.
  • Devotees of scotch and water should be advised they may never attain the perfect blend.
British Dictionary definitions for scotch

scotch1

/skɒtʃ/
verb (transitive)
1.
to put an end to; crush: bad weather scotched our plans
2.
(archaic) to injure so as to render harmless
3.
(obsolete) to cut or score
noun
4.
(archaic) a gash; scratch
5.
a line marked down, as for hopscotch
Word Origin
C15: of obscure origin

scotch2

/skɒtʃ/
verb
1.
(transitive) to block, prop, or prevent from moving with or as if with a wedge
noun
2.
a block or wedge to prevent motion
Word Origin
C17: of obscure origin

Scotch1

/skɒtʃ/
adjective
1.
another word for Scottish
noun
2.
the Scots or their language
Usage note
In the north of England and in Scotland, Scotch is not used outside fixed expressions such as Scotch whisky. The use of Scotch for Scots or Scottish is otherwise felt to be incorrect, esp when applied to people

Scotch2

/skɒtʃ/
noun
1.
Also called Scotch whisky. whisky distilled esp from fermented malted barley and made in Scotland
2.
(Northeast English) a type of relatively mild beer
Word Origin and History for scotch

Scotch

adj.

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

Scotch-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.

v.

"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.

n.

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

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