/ ˈkɒkrəʊtʃ; NAmE ˈkɑːkroʊtʃ/ (also NAmE informal roach ) noun
a large brown insect with wings, that lives in houses, especially where there is dirt
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (as cacaroch ): from Spanish cucaracha . The spelling change was due to association with cock and roach .