noun
Uncommon
scotch
skoch
Scotch (noun) means Whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley. Example: “He poured himself a glass of scotch after a long day.”
noun
1
Whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley.
"He poured himself a glass of scotch after a long day."
"My uncle prefers a small glass of scotch with a little water."
"The shop sells a wide range of scotch from different distilleries."
2
A wedge or block placed against a wheel to stop it rolling.
"They put a scotch behind the truck's wheel before unloading it."
"The driver kicked a scotch under the rear tyre to stop the van rolling."
"Without a scotch, the heavy cart began to roll down the slope."
verb
1
To put an end to something, such as a plan or rumor, before it can succeed.
"The board scotched the takeover bid within days."
"The minister moved quickly to scotch rumours that the school would close."
"A clear statement from the manager scotched any hope of a late deal."
How to use scotch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often refers to Scottish whisky, or to a verb meaning to shut down a plan or rumour firmly.
Common mistake
As an adjective for people or things from Scotland, "Scottish" or "Scots" is preferred today; "Scotch" is mainly reserved for the whisky and a handful of fixed terms like "Scotch tape."
Common pairings
a glass of scotch
scotch the rumours
scotch tape
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Word forms
- Plural
- scotches
- Third person singular
- scotches
- Past tense
- scotched
Fill the gap
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He poured himself a glass of _____ after a long day.
Etymology
From Middle English scocchen, "to cut," probably from Anglo-Norman escocher, "to notch." Despite the spelling, it is not related to "Scotch" meaning Scottish.
Related words
Rhymes for scotch
See all rhymes for scotch →Frequently asked questions
What does “scotch” mean?
The word “scotch” means whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley. In plain terms, most often refers to Scottish whisky, or to a verb meaning to shut down a plan or rumour firmly.
How do you pronounce “scotch”?
“Scotch” is pronounced skoch (/skɑt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “scotch” in a sentence?
Here is “scotch” used in a sentence: “He poured himself a glass of scotch after a long day.”
What part of speech is “scotch”?
Depending on how it is used, “scotch” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “scotch” come from?
The word “scotch” comes from Middle English. From Middle English scocchen, "to cut," probably from Anglo-Norman escocher, "to notch." Despite the spelling, it is not related to "Scotch" meaning Scottish.
Is “scotch” a common word?
“Scotch” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “scotch” have?
“Scotch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley.
What is the difference between Scotch and whisky?
Scotch is whisky distilled specifically in Scotland, especially from malted barley, so all Scotch is whisky but not all whisky is Scotch. Whisky made in Ireland, the United States, or Japan, for example, is not called Scotch.
What does it mean to "scotch" a rumor or plan?
To scotch a rumor or plan means to put an end to it before it can succeed or spread further. This verb sense is unrelated to the whisky and instead describes decisively stopping something.
Is "Scotch" an acceptable way to describe Scottish people?
No, using "Scotch" to describe people from Scotland is considered old-fashioned and is generally avoided today; "Scottish" or "Scots" is preferred for people. "Scotch" is now mainly reserved for the whisky and a few fixed terms like "scotch tape" or "scotch a rumor."
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