Scotch

Etymology

Contraction of Scottish.

The tape brand is supposedly after its cheapness (as the Scottish were stereotyped as cheap).

The chess opening is supposedly after its having been played in a correspondence game between Edinburgh, Scotland, and London, England.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /skɒtʃ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /skɑtʃ/
• Rhymes: -ɒtʃ

Noun

Scotch (countable and uncountable, plural Scotches)

1. (as a plural noun, the Scotch) The people of Scotland.

   The Scotch are a hardy bunch.

2. (uncountable) Whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley.

   Paul has drunk a lot of Scotch.

3. (countable) Any variety of Scotch.

   My favorite Scotches are Glenlivet and Laphroaig.

4. (countable) A glass of Scotch.

   Gimme a Scotch.

Proper noun

Scotch

1. The Scottish dialect of English, or the Scots language.
   • 1932, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song, Polygon 2006 (A Scots Quair), p. 156:

     But Rob was just saying what a shame it was that folk should be shamed nowadays to speak Scotch – or they called it Scots if they did, the split-tongued sourocks!

2. (chess, informal, the Scotch) The opening 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4.

   Karpov played the Scotch against Anand.

Adjective

Scotch (not comparable)

1. (dated) Of or from Scotland; Scottish.
   • 1801, William Hanna, Memoirs of the life and writings of Thomas Chalmers (page 422)

     Behind all his assumed unsocialism there lay a true warm heart; nor could anything be kindlier than the welcome which, whenever they did come to him, any of his Scotch relatives received.

   • 1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy:

     our landlord informed us, with a sort of apologetic tone, that there was a Scotch gentleman to dine with us.