I. adjective
or welch ˈwelsh, -lch
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Middle English walisch, welisch, from Old English (northern & Midland dialect) wælisc, welisc Celtic, Welsh, foreign, from Old English Walh, Wealh Celtic, Welshman, foreigner (of Celtic origin; akin to the source of Latin Volcae, a Celtic people of southeastern Gaul) + -isc -ish
1.
a. : of, relating to, or characteristic of Wales
b. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Welsh people
2. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Welsh language
II. noun
or welch “
Etymology: Middle English Walsche, Welsse, from walisch, welisch, adjective
1. plural in construction , capitalized : the natives or inhabitants of Wales descended from romanized Britons
2. -es capitalized : a Celtic language of the Welsh people possessing an extensive and actively growing literature and used as the language of education in some communities in Wales — see indo-european languages table
3. -es usually capitalized : welsh pony
4. or welsh black
a. usually capitalized W&B : a Welsh breed of large black dual-purpose cattle
b. -es usually capitalized W & often capitalized B : an animal of this breed
5.
a. usually capitalized : a Welsh breed of longbodied lop-eared swine of good bacon type
b. or welsh pig -es usually capitalized W & often capitalized P : an animal of this breed
III. intransitive verb
or welch “
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: probably from welsh (I)
1. : to cheat by avoiding payment of bets
welshed on a daily-double payoff
2. : to avoid dishonorably the fulfillment of an obligation
welsh on its contract with the government for slum clearance — New Republic