Notch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -É’tʃ

Origin

Recorded since 1577, probably a rebracketing of an + otch, which noun stems from Middle French oche ("notch"), itself from the Old French verb ochier ("to notch"), of unknown origin

Full definition of notch

Noun

1. A V-shaped cut.
2. Such a cut, used for keeping a record''The notches in that tribe's warrior axe handles stand for killed enemies.
3. An indentation.
4. A mountain pass; a defile
5. (informal) A level or degree.''This car is a notch better than the other.
• 2014, Daniel Taylor, "World Cup 2014: Uruguay sink England as Suárez makes his mark," guardian.co.uk, 20 June:A better team might also have done more to expose Uruguay’s occasionally brittle defence, but England’s speed of thought and movement in their attacking positions was a good notch or two down from the Italy game.

Derived terms

• notch on one's bedpost, notch on the bedpost
• notchback
• notchboard
• top notch

Verb

1. (transitive) To cut a notch in (something).
2. (transitive) To record (a score or similar) by making notches on something.The tribe's hunters notch their kills by notches on each's axe's handle.
3. (transitive) To join by means of notches.
4. (transitive) To achieve (something).The team notched a pair of shutout wins on Sunday.
• 2010, October 21, Panthers' football team, Jenkins booted a pair of field goals, Hopkins and George Nwokoji each notched a touchdown.

Derived terms

• notcher
• notchy