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thatch

(thăch)

1. Plant stalks or foliage, such as reeds or palm fronds, used for roofing.

2. Something, such as a thick growth of hair on the head, that resembles thatch.

3. Dead turf, as on a lawn.

tr.v. thatched, thatch·ing, thatch·es

To cover with or as if with thatch.

[Middle English thacche, alteration (influenced by thecchen, thacchen, to thatch, from Old English theccan, to cover) of thak, from Old English thæc; see (s)teg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

thatcher n.

thatchy adj.

Thatch

(thăch), Edward

See Edward Teach.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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