Hutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ÊŒtʃ

Origin

Middle English hucche ("storage chest"), variation of Middle English whucce from Old English hwicce, hwice "box, chest". Spelling influenced by Old French huche ("chest"), from Medieval Latin hūtica, from a different root, from Frankish *hutta, from Proto-Germanic *hudjā-, *hudjan- ("box, hut, hutch"). Akin to Old English hȳdan "to conceal, hide". More at hide

Full definition of hutch

Noun

1. A cage in which a rabbit or rabbits are kept.
• 1960, Harper Lee, , chapter 16,To reach the courtroom, on the second floor, one passed sundry sunless county cubbyholes: the tax assessor,... the circuit clerk, the judge of probate lived in cool dim hutches that smelled...
2. A piece of furniture in which items may be displayed.
3. A measure of two Winchester bushels.
4. (mining) The case of a flour bolt.
5. (mining) A car on low wheels, in which coal is drawn in the mine and hoisted out of the pit.
6. A jig for washing ore.

Verb

1. (transitive) To hoard or lay up, in a chest.
• MiltonShe hutched the ... ore.
2. (mining, transitive) To wash (ore) in a box or jig.