Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
scotching
present participle of scotch
Source: Wiktionary
Scotch"ing, n. (Masonry)
Definition: Dressing stone with a pick or pointed instrument.
Scotch, a. Etym: [Cf. Scottish.]
Definition: Of or pertaining to Scotland, its language, or its inhabitants; Scottish. Scotch broom (Bot.), the Cytisus scoparius. See Broom.
– Scotch dipper, or Scotch duck (Zoöl.), the bufflehead; -- called also Scotch teal, and Scotchman.
– Scotch fiddle, the itch. [Low] Sir W. Scott.
– Scotch mist, a coarse, dense mist, like fine rain.
– Scotch nightingale (Zoöl.), the sedge warbler. [Prov. Eng.] -- Scotch pebble. See under pebble.
– Scotch pine (Bot.) See Riga fir.
– Scotch thistle (Bot.), a species of thistle (Onopordon acanthium); -- so called from its being the national emblem of the Scotch.
Scotch, n.
1. The dialect or dialects of English spoken by the people of Scotland.
2. Collectively, the people of Scotland.
Scotch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scotched; p. pr. & vb. n. Scotching.] Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. scole a prop, and Walloon ascot a prop, ascoter to prop, F. accoter, also Armor. skoaz the shoulder, skoazia to shoulder up, to prop, to support, W. ysgwydd a shoulder, ysgwyddo to shoulder. Cf. Scoat.] [Written also scoatch, scoat.]
Definition: To shoulder up; to prop or block with a wedge, chock, etc., as a wheel, to prevent its rolling or slipping.
Scotch, n.
Definition: A chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping; as, a scotch for a wheel or a log on inclined ground.
Scotch, v. t. Etym: [Probably the same word as scutch; cf. Norw. skoka, skoko, a swingle for flax; perhaps akin to E. shake.]
Definition: To cut superficially; to wound; to score. We have scotched the snake, not killed it. Shak. Scotched collops (Cookery), a dish made of pieces of beef or veal cut thin, or minced, beaten flat, and stewed with onion and other condiments; -- called also Scotch collops. [Written also scotcht collops.]
Scotch, n.
Definition: A slight cut or incision; a score. Walton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
8 May 2025
(noun) the act of protecting something by surrounding it with material that reduces or prevents the transmission of sound or heat or electricity
Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.