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Notch

//nɒtʃ// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A V-shaped cut.
  2. 2
    a small cut wordnet
  3. 3
    A V-shaped cut.; Such a cut, used for keeping a record.

    "The notches in that tribe's warrior axe handles stand for killed enemies."

  4. 4
    a V-shaped or U-shaped indentation carved or scratched into a surface wordnet
  5. 5
    An indentation.
Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks wordnet
  2. 7
    A mountain pass; a defile.
  3. 8
    a V-shaped indentation wordnet
  4. 9
    The female primary sex organ, vulva. slang

    "If this Coin pass, no Man that lives, Shall dun for Past Debauches; Zounds, Landlords, send but in your Wifes, We’ll scow’r off all their Notches."

  5. 10
    A woman. US, slang

    "These ladies from the west got game Who got the best, VA, DC, Georgia, New York, Texas, Louisiana, or Florida The Middwest got some super notches You eva seen Cali's finest, man, who could top us"

  6. 11
    A discontinuous change in a taxation schedule.
  7. 12
    A level or degree. informal

    "This car is a notch better than the other."

  8. 13
    A portion of a mobile phone that overlaps the edge of the screen, used to house a camera, sensors etc. while maximizing screen space.
Verb
  1. 1
    To cut a notch in (something). transitive
  2. 2
    notch a surface to record something wordnet
  3. 3
    To record (a score or similar) by making notches on something. transitive

    "The tribe's hunters notch their kills by notches on each's axe's handle."

  4. 4
    cut or make a notch into wordnet
  5. 5
    To join by means of notches. transitive
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  1. 6
    To achieve (something); to add to one's score or record of successes. informal, transitive

    "The team notched a pair of shutout wins on Sunday."

  2. 7
    Synonym of nock (“to fit (an arrow) to a bow”). transitive

    "Notching an arrow on the string of his tried and unerring bow, he raised his sinewy arms […]"

  3. 8
    To change in small graduations. transitive

    "to notch back a salary"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Recorded since 1577, probably a rebracketing of an otch, from Middle French oche (“notch”), itself from the Old French verb ochier (“to notch”), of uncertain origin, but possibly related to French hocher and English nick (“small cut, notch”).

Etymology 2

Recorded since 1577, probably a rebracketing of an otch, from Middle French oche (“notch”), itself from the Old French verb ochier (“to notch”), of uncertain origin, but possibly related to French hocher and English nick (“small cut, notch”).

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