scotch

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
  2. noun whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still
  3. verb hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

Etymology

From Middle English scocchen (“to cut”), perhaps from Anglo-Norman escocher (“to notch”), from es- (“intensive prefix”) (from Latin ex-) + Old French coche (“notch”). Not related to Scotch.

In classic literature

Synonyms

score

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