Ĕtch1, n.
n. [See EDDISH.] Ground from which a crop has been taken. [Obs.] See EDDISH. Mortimer.
3 entries under this word
Etch
Ĕtch2, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. ETCHED (ĕtcht); p. pr. & vb. n. ETCHING.] [N. H. Ger. ätzen, atzen, to feed, to corrode, etch, D. etsen, M. H. Ger. atzen, etzen, O. H. Ger. azôn, ezzan, azjan, Goth. atjan, from O. H. Ger. ezan, Goth. itan, Eng. eat, imp. ate.]
Sense 1. To produce, as figures or designs, on metal, glass, or the like, by means of lines or strokes eaten in or corroded by means of some strong acid.
☞ The plate is first covered with varnish, or some other ground capable of resisting the acid, and this is then scored or scratched by a needle, or similar instrument, so as to form the drawing; the plate is then covered with acid, which corrodes the metal in the lines thus laid bare.
Sense 2. To sketch; to delineate. [Rare.]
Ĕtch3, v. i.
To practice etching. Locke.