What does "dunch" mean?
A push; knock; bump.
Dunch
/dʌnt͡ʃ/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A push; knock; bump.
- Grammar: dunch is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: slow.
- Usage evidence: And just at the same time the tide caught the brig, and threw the wind out of her sails. She came round into the wind like a top, and the next moment struck the reef with such a dunch as threw us all flat upon the deck, and came near to shake Mr. Riach from his place upon the mast.
How to use "dunch"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dunch" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dunch" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dunch" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dunch" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "slow" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A push; knock; bump. dialectal
"And just at the same time the tide caught the brig, and threw the wind out of her sails. She came round into the wind like a top, and the next moment struck the reef with such a dunch as threw us all flat upon the deck, and came near to shake Mr. Riach from his place upon the mast."
- 2 A leisurely meal between lunch and dinner in the late afternoon or early evening (about 3-5 p.m.), usually instead of lunch or dinner. informal, rare
"I have a lunchtime meeting tomorrow, so let's have dunch together instead."
- 3 A fat hit from a claggy lie.
Verb
- 1 To knock against; to hit, punch Geordie
- 2 To crash into; to bump into. Geordie
- 3 To gore with the horns, as a bull. Scotland
- 4 To push, jog, or nudge, especially with the elbow. British
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"And just at the same time the tide caught the brig, and threw the wind out of her sails. She came round into the wind like a top, and the next moment struck the reef with such a dunch as threw us all flat upon the deck, and came near to shake Mr. Riach from his place upon the mast."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dunch"?
Common synonyms include: slow.
How do you use "dunch" in a sentence?
And just at the same time the tide caught the brig, and threw the wind out of her sails. She came round into the wind like a top, and the next moment struck the reef with such a dunch as threw us all flat upon the deck, and came near to shake Mr. Riach from his place upon the mast.
How do you pronounce "dunch"?
Pronounced /dʌnt͡ʃ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English dunchen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from the noun (see below); or of North Germanic origin, related to Old Swedish diunga (“to hit, knock”), dialectal Swedish dunka (“to beat”); or from Middle English dengen, from Old English denġan, denċġan (“to knock, ding”), from Proto-Germanic *dangijaną (“to bang, knock”). Compare English dinge.
Etymology 2
From Middle English dunche, perhaps from Old English *dynċ, from Proto-Germanic *dunkiz. Compare Old Norse dykr, dynkr (“a crashing noise”), Danish dunk (“a blow”), Swedish dunk (“a thump, clap”), Norwegian dunk (“a knock, bump”).
Etymology 3
Blend of dinner + lunch, probably in imitation of brunch.