scotch

(noun) a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally). Synonyms: score.

(noun) whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still. Synonyms: Scotch, Scotch whiskey, Scotch whisky, malt whiskey, malt whisky, Scotch malt whiskey, Scotch malt whisky.

(verb) hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of. Synonyms: thwart, queer, spoil, foil, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilk. Examples: "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was ruth's amazing september surge." "Foil your opponent."

(verb) make a small cut or score into.

(adj) of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language. Synonyms: Scots, Scottish, Scotch. Examples: "Scots gaelic." "The scots community in new york." "`scottish' tends to be the more formal term as in `the scottish symphony' or `scottish authors' or `scottish mountains'." "`scotch' is in disfavor with scottish people and is used primarily outside scotland except in such frozen phrases as `scotch broth' or `scotch whiskey' or `scotch plaid'."

(adj) avoiding waste. Synonyms: economical, frugal, sparing, stinting. Examples: "An economical meal." "An economical shopper." "A frugal farmer." "A frugal lunch." "A sparing father and a spending son." "Sparing in their use of heat and light." "Stinting in bestowing gifts." "Thrifty because they remember the great depression." "`scotch' is used only informally."