hatch 1
— hatchable , adj. — hatchability , n. — hatcher , n.
/hach/ , v.t.
1. to bring forth (young) from the egg.
2. to cause young to emerge from (the egg) as by brooding or incubating.
3. to bring forth or produce; devise; create; contrive; concoct: to hatch a scheme.
v.i.
4. to be hatched.
5. to brood.
n.
6. the act of hatching.
7. something that is hatched, as a brood.
[ 1200-50; ME hacchen; akin to G hecken to hatch ]
Syn. 1. incubate, brood. 3. plan, plot.
hatch 2
/hach/ , n.
1. Naut.
a. Also called hatchway . an opening, usually rectangular, in the deck through which passengers can pass, cargo can be loaded or unloaded, etc.
b. the cover over such an opening.
2. an opening that serves as a doorway or window in the floor or roof of a building.
3. the cover over such an opening.
4. Slang. the throat as used for drinking: His usual toast was a muttered "Down the hatch!"
5. Aeron. an opening or door in an aircraft.
6. the lower half of a divided door, both parts of which can be opened separately.
7. a small door, grated opening, or serving counter in or attached to the wall of a building, room, etc., as for a merchant's stall.
8. a bin or compartment built into a confined space, esp. a deep storage bin.
9. Auto.
a. the cargo area in a hatchback.
b. Also called liftgate . the hinged lid of a hatchback that swings upward to provide access to the cargo area.
10. anything resembling a hatch.
11. batten down the or one's hatches ,
a. Naut. prepare for stormy weather: used as a command.
b. to prepare to meet an emergency or face a great difficulty: The government must batten down its hatches before the election.
[ bef. 1100; ME hacche, OE haecc grating, hatch, half-gate; akin to D hek gate, railing ]
hatch 3
/hach/ , v.t.
1. to mark with lines, esp. closely set parallel lines, as for shading in drawing or engraving.
2. hachure (def. 3).
n.
3. a shading line in drawing or engraving.
[ 1470-80; earlier hache hacher to cut up, deriv. of hache ax. See HATCHET ]