scotch

Multiple Entries:
  scotch    Scotch  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
scotch1

▶verb

• 1 decisively put an end to.

• 2 archaic injure and render harmless.

• 3 wedge or prevent from moving with a wedge.

▶noun archaic a wedge placed under a rolling object to prevent it slipping.

– origin C17 (as n.): of unknown origin; perh. rel. to skate1.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
scotch2 archaic

▶verb cut or score the skin or surface of. ▶noun a cut or score in skin or another surface.

– origin ME: of unknown origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
Scotch/skɒtʃ/

▶adjective old-fashioned term for Scottish. ▶noun

• 1 short for Scotch whisky.

• 2 (as pl. n. the Scotch) dated the people of Scotland.

• 3 dated the form of English spoken in Scotland.

– origin C16: contr. of Scottish.

usage: The use of Scotch to mean ‘Scottish’ is disliked by Scottish people and is now uncommon in modern English. It survives in a number of fixed expressions, such as Scotch whisky. See also usage at Scottish.