scotch
verb
[ skɒtʃ ]
• decisively put an end to.
• "a spokesman has scotched the rumours"
Similar:
put an end to,
put a stop to,
bring to an end,
nip in the bud,
put the lid on,
ruin,
wreck,
scupper,
destroy,
devastate,
smash,
shatter,
demolish,
queer,
frustrate,
thwart,
put paid to,
blow,
put the kibosh on,
clobber,
dish,
• wedge (someone or something) somewhere.
• "he soon scotched himself against a wall"
scotch
noun
• a wedge placed under a wheel or other rolling object to prevent it moving or slipping.
Origin:
early 17th century (as a noun): of unknown origin; perhaps related to skate1. The sense ‘render temporarily harmless’ is based on an emendation of Shakespeare's Macbeth III. ii. 13 as ‘We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it’, originally understood as a use of scotch2; the sense ‘put an end to’ (early 19th century) results from the influence on this of the notion of wedging or blocking something so as to render it inoperative.
scotch
verb
• cut or score the skin or surface of.
• "scotch with your knife the back of the Carp"
scotch
noun
• a cut or score in skin or another surface.
• "a scotch in his face"
Origin:
late Middle English: of unknown origin.
Scotch
noun
• short for Scotch whisky.
• "a bottle of Scotch"
• the people of Scotland.
• the form of English spoken in Scotland.
Scotch
adjective
• Scottish.
• "a Scotch plaid scarf"
Origin:
late 16th century: contraction of Scottish.
