n.

1. a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally);
   score
2. whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still;
   Scotch, Scotch whiskey, Scotch whisky, malt whiskey, malt whisky, Scotch malt whiskey, Scotch malt whisky

v.

1. hinder or prevent  (the efforts, plans, or desires) of;
   thwart, queer, spoil, foil, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilk
   
   • What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge
   • foil your opponent
2. make a small cut or score into

adj.

1. of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language;
   Scots, Scottish, Scotch
   
   • Scots Gaelic
   • the Scots community in New York
   • `Scottish' tends to be the more formal term as in `The Scottish Symphony' or `Scottish authors' or `Scottish mountains'
   • `Scotch' is in disfavor with Scottish people and is used primarily outside Scotland except in such frozen phrases as `Scotch broth' or `Scotch whiskey' or `Scotch plaid'
2. avoiding waste;
   economical, frugal, sparing, stinting
   
   • an economical meal
   • an economical shopper
   • a frugal farmer
   • a frugal lunch
   • a sparing father and a spending son
   • sparing in their use of heat and light
   • stinting in bestowing gifts
   • thrifty because they remember the great Depression
   • `scotch' is used only informally