1. n.1 an opening between two rooms, e.g. between a kitchen and a dining-room for serving food.
2 an opening or door in an aircraft, spacecraft, etc.
3 Naut. a HATCHWAY. b a trapdoor or cover for this (often in pl.: batten the hatches).
4 a floodgate.
Phrases and idioms:
down the hatch sl. (as a drinking toast) drink up, cheers! under hatches
1. below deck.
2 a down out of sight. b brought low; dead.
Etymology: OE h{aelig}cc f. Gmc 2. 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.
Etymology: ME hacche, of unkn. orig. 3. v.tr. mark (a surface, e.g. a map or drawing) with close parallel lines.
Etymology: ME f. F hacher f. hache HATCHET