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 scotch : 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

There are not as many ultra-aged Irish whiskeys as there scotch whiskies in the world, but there are certainly some worth seeking out. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026

Still another playground, for the U.N. grounds, stalled as well, once more scotched by Moses. —Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026

Noun

The county’s intriguing film history ranges from an attempt at a West Coast movie empire in Coronado to Michael Douglas drinking a scotch and soda at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass, gently drizzle the smoky scotch across the top, and garnish with something aromatically neutral like a ginger candy or else nothing at all. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026

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