Scotch

1 of 7

adjective

ˈskäch 

1

: scottish

2

: inclined to frugality

Scotch

2 of 7

noun (1)

1

: scots

2

plural in construction : the people of Scotland

3

often not capitalized : whiskey distilled in Scotland especially from malted barley

called also Scotch whisky

Scotch

3 of 7

trademark

—used for adhesive tape

scotch

4 of 7

verb (1)

ˈskäch 

scotched; scotching; scotches

transitive verb

1

archaic : cut, gash, score

also : wound

we have scotched the snake, not killed it

—William Shakespeare

2

: to put an end to

scotched rumors of a military takeover

scotch

5 of 7

noun (2)

: a superficial cut : score

scotch

6 of 7

noun (3)

: a chock to prevent rolling or slipping

scotch

7 of 7

verb (2)

scotched; scotching; scotches

transitive verb

1

: to block with a chock

2

: hinder, thwart

Examples of Scotch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Auchentoshan, a 200-year-old Lowland scotch distillery, is praised for its unique triple distillation and award-winning whiskies. —Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

The result is a cocktail that is very much a scotch drink but also very much a tiki drink, a delicious contradiction and a perfect representation of the ethos. —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2025

Verb

Arthur and Michael had made plans to escape Dublin for London, but Arthur’s father’s will has scotched those plans. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025

For beginners the classic Speyside style is part of an introduction to scotch. —Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Noun

Mark Littler Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is the quintessential speyside scotch. —Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

The waitress knows him well enough to intuit his drink order (something with scotch, but fruity). —Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

contraction of Scottish

Verb (1)

Middle English scocchen to gash, from Anglo-French escocher, eschocher to pierce

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1639, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Scotch

• Scotch bonnet
• Scotch broom
• Scotch broth
• Scotch egg
• Scotch-Irish
• Scotch pine
• Scotch terrier
• Scotch verdict
• Scotch woodcock

Rhymes for Scotch

• boche
• botch
• brough
• crotch
• gotch
• notch
• rotch
• swatch
• watch
• butterscotch
• hopscotch
• stopwatch

Kids Definition

scotch

1 of 3 verb

ˈskäch

1

archaic : to injure so as to make temporarily harmless

2

: to stamp out : crush

especially : to put an end to by showing the untruth of

scotch a rumor

Scotch

2 of 3 adjective

ˈskäch 

: scottish entry 1

Scotch

3 of 3 noun

1

: scots

2

Scotch plural : the people of Scotland

3

often not capitalized : whiskey made in Scotland especially from barley