hatch

¹hatch

noun \ˈhach\

Definition of HATCH

1

: a small door or opening (as in an airplane or spaceship) <an escape hatch>

2

a : an opening in the deck of a ship or in the floor or roof of a building

b : the covering for such an opening

c : hatchway

d : compartment

3

: floodgate

Origin of HATCH

Middle English hache, from Old English hæc; akin to Middle Dutch hecke trapdoor

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with HATCH

bach, batch, catch, cratch, klatch, latch, match, natch, patch, scratch, snatch, thatch

²hatch

verb

Definition of HATCH

intransitive verb

1

: to produce young by incubation

2

a : to emerge from an egg, chrysalis, or pupa

b : to give forth young or imagoes

3

: to incubate eggs : brood

transitive verb

1

a : to produce (young) from an egg by applying natural or artificial heat

b : incubate 1a

2

: to bring into being : originate; especially : to concoct in secret <hatch a plot>

— hatch·abil·i·ty \ˌha-chə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— hatch·able \ˈha-chə-bəl\ adjective

— hatch·er noun

Origin of HATCH

Middle English hacchen; akin to Middle High German hecken to mate

First Known Use: 13th century

³hatch

noun

Definition of HATCH

1

: an act or instance of hatching

2

: a brood of hatched young

First Known Use of HATCH

1601

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

⁴hatch

transitive verb

Definition of HATCH

1

: to inlay with narrow bands of distinguishable material <a silver handle hatched with gold>

2

: to mark (as a drawing or engraving) with fine closely spaced lines

Origin of HATCH

Middle French hacher to chop, slice up, incise with fine lines, from Old French hachier — more at hash

First Known Use: 15th century

⁵hatch

noun

Definition of HATCH

: line; especially : one used to give the effect of shading

First Known Use of HATCH

1658