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

Verb

The three-minute segment came on a chilly late-winter’s eve, scotching any notion that the forecast Doctor Love shouted out loud would be hotter than hell. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025

At times, the episodes become a little repetitive as Carter shows up somewhere after the arrival of the gang members to scotch their plans in increasingly ingenious ways. —John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025

Noun

The microelectrode array is thinner than a human hair and resembles a piece of yellow scotch tape. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025

Compass Box is celebrating a quarter century of making blended scotch whisky this year, no small achievement for an upstart company in this storied industry. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 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