ratch

1 of 6

variant of rach

ratch

2 of 6

noun (1)

ˈrach
plural -es
chiefly dialectal
: a blaze on an animal's face

ratch

3 of 6

intransitive verb

"
-ed/-ing/-es
chiefly dialectal
: stretch, rend

ratch

4 of 6

noun (2)

"
plural -es
: the distance between nip of back and front drafting rolls in spinning

ratch

5 of 6

noun (3)

"
plural -es
1
: ratchet sense 1
2
: a notched bar with which a pawl or click works to prevent reversal of motion

ratch

6 of 6

transitive verb

"
-ed/-ing/-es
1
: to cut gear teeth on (a wheel)
2
: to turn (as a tool) by or as if by a ratchet and pawl

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Intransitive verb

back-formation from raught, after English caught : catch

Noun (3)

German ratsche, rätsche clapper, rattle, ratchet, from ratschen, rätschen to rattle, from Middle High German ratzen; akin to Middle High German razzeln to rattle

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Dictionary Entries Near ratch

ratcatcher

ratch

rat cheese

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratch. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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