notch

[noch] /nɒtʃ/
noun
1.
an angular or V -shaped cut, indentation, or slit in an object, surface, or edge.
2.
a cut or nick made in a stick or other object for record, as in keeping a tally.
3.
New England and Upstate New York. a deep, narrow opening or pass between mountains; gap; defile.
4.
Informal. a step, degree, or grade:
This camera is a notch better than the other.
5.
Metallurgy. a taphole in a blast furnace:
iron notch; cinder notch.
verb (used with object)
6.
to cut or make a notch in.
7.
to record by notches:
He notched each kill on the stick.
8.
to score, as in a game:
He notched another win.
Idioms
9.
notch up / down, to move up or down or increase or decrease by notches or degrees:
The temperature has notched up another degree.
Origin
1570-80; a notch (by false division) for an *otch < Old French oche notch
Related forms
notchy, adjective
unnotched, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for notch

notch

/nɒtʃ/
noun
1.
a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick
2.
a cut or nick made in a tally stick or similar object
3.
(US & Canadian) a narrow pass or gorge
4.
(informal) a step or level (esp in the phrase a notch above)
verb (transitive)
5.
to cut or make a notch in
6.
to record with or as if with a notch
7.
(usually foll by up) (informal) to score or achieve: the team notched up its fourth win
Word Origin
C16: from incorrect division of an otch (as a notch), from Old French oche notch, from Latin obsecāre to cut off, from secāre to cut
Word Origin and History for notch
n.

1570s, probably a misdivision of an otch (see N for other examples), from Middle French oche "notch," from Old French ochier "to notch," of unknown origin. Said to be unconnected to nock.

v.

1590s, from notch (n.). Earlier verb (before misdivision) was Middle English ochen "to cut, slash" (c.1400). Related: Notched; notching.

notch in Medicine

notch (nŏch)
n.

  1. An indentation at the edge of a structure; an incisure.

  2. An upstroke or peak on a pulse tracing.

Slang definitions & phrases for notch

notch

verb
  1. To score; achieve: a pacy serve that's notched a few aces in its time (1623+)
  2. To do the sex act •Use attributed to volleyball players: Guys don't fuck, they notch (1970s+)
Related Terms

notchery, top-notch

[first sense fr use of the term in cricket, and influenced by the cowboy tradition of filing a notch in the handle of one's pistol for each man killed]


Idioms and Phrases with notch

notch

see: take down a notch