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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