ditch
UK: dɪtʃ | US: dɪtʃ
n. a narrow channel dug in the ground, typically for drainage or irrigation
vt. to discard or abandon something abruptly
vt. to dig or construct a ditch
No data yet.
"Ditch" originates from Old English dīc, meaning "a trench or moat," which is related to the verb dīcan ("to dig"). The word shares Proto-Germanic roots with Dutch dijk ("dike") and German Teich ("pond"). Over time, its meaning narrowed to focus on smaller, man-made channels, while retaining the core idea of excavation. The colloquial verb sense ("to abandon") emerged in 20th-century slang, metaphorically linking disposal to "throwing something into a ditch."
Farmers dug a ditch to divert water from the flooded field.
The company ditched its outdated software for a modern system.
Heavy rain turned the roadside ditch into a stream.
She ditched her old habits after moving to a new city.
The army constructed defensive ditches around the camp.