/kɛt͡ʃ/
OriginFrom Middle English catche, from cacchen (“to catch”). For the modern form with /ɛ/, compare the pronunciation /kɛtʃ/ of catch.
- A fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel with two masts, main and mizzen, the mizzen being stepped forward of the rudder post.
“[…] to finish her new Habit or Appearance, and make her Change compleat, he ordered her Sails to be alter’d; and as she sailed before with a Half-Sprit, like a Yacht, she sailed now with square Sail a”
- A hangman.
- UK, dialectalA pie or turnover.
- Synonym of Jack Ketch (“a public executioner”).
“Hanging was indeed the popular remedy for all criminal disorders. The legislator found patients for it, the judge prescribed it, and the Ketch administered it with the same callous and gallows indiffe”
- alt-of, pronunciation-spellingPronunciation spelling of catch.
“I guess, he is trying to ketch mebut it won't du. I'm tu old a bird to be ketch'd with chaff.”
“Wot is it, lambs, as they ketches in seas, rivers, lakes, and ponds?”
“[…] I got to go to church and sweat and sweat—I hate them ornery sermons! I can’t ketch a fly in there, I can’t chaw, I got to wear shoes all Sunday.”
- rareTo hang.
“'Squire Ketch rejoices as much to hear of a new Vox, as an old Sexton does to hear of a new Delight.”
“Well! If he has a mind to be Ketch'd, speed him say I.”
“Ignorant of many of the secrets of ketchcraft.”
Formsketches(plural) · ketches(present, singular, third-person) · ketching(participle, present) · ketched(participle, past) · ketched(past) · Ketches(plural)