Notch

[noch] /nɒtʃ/

noun
1.
an angular or V -shaped cut, indentation, or slit in an object, surface, or edge.
2.
a cut or nick made in a stick or other object for record, as in keeping a tally.
3.
New England and Upstate New York. a deep, narrow opening or pass between mountains; gap; defile.
4.
Informal. a step, degree, or grade:
This camera is a notch better than the other.
5.
Metallurgy. a taphole in a blast furnace:
iron notch; cinder notch.
verb (used with object)
6.
to cut or make a notch in.
7.
to record by notches:
He notched each kill on the stick.
8.
to score, as in a game:
He notched another win.
Idioms
9.
notch up / down, to move up or down or increase or decrease by notches or degrees:
The temperature has notched up another degree.
/nɒtʃ/
noun
1.
a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick
2.
a cut or nick made in a tally stick or similar object
3.
(US & Canadian) a narrow pass or gorge
4.
(informal) a step or level (esp in the phrase a notch above)
verb (transitive)
5.
to cut or make a notch in
6.
to record with or as if with a notch
7.
(usually foll by up) (informal) to score or achieve: the team notched up its fourth win
n.

1570s, probably a misdivision of an otch (see N for other examples), from Middle French oche “notch,” from Old French ochier “to notch,” of unknown origin. Said to be unconnected to nock.
v.

1590s, from notch (n.). Earlier verb (before misdivision) was Middle English ochen “to cut, slash” (c.1400). Related: Notched; notching.

notch (nŏch)
n.

verb

Related Terms

notchery, top-notch

[first sense fr use of the term in cricket, and influenced by the cowboy tradition of filing a notch in the handle of one’s pistol for each man killed]
see: take down a notch