ketch
/kɛt͡ʃ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.35 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel with two masts, main and mizzen, the mizzen being stepped forward of the rudder post.
verb
verb
To hang.
noun
A hangman.
noun
Synonym of Jack Ketch (“a public executioner”).
Example Sentences
- "[…] 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 and Mizen Mast, like a Ketch; so that, in a Word, she was a perfect Cheat […]"
- "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."
- "You'll ketch your death. The fire's out long ago."
- "You'll never ketch me hollerin' at no Republican gatherin'."
Etymology
From Middle English catche, from cacchen (“to catch”). For the modern form with /ɛ/, compare the pronunciation /kɛtʃ/ of catch.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: catche, kechel, *cēċel, *kōkil
Usage
- British usage