v. & n.
v. 1 intr. a (often foll. by out) (of a young bird or fish etc.) emerge from the egg. b (of an egg) produce a young animal. 2 tr. incubate (an egg). 3 tr. (also foll. by up) devise (a plot etc.).
n. 1 the act or an instance of hatching. 2 a brood hatched.
[ ME hacche, of unkn. orig. ]