hitch

Probably from Middle English hytchen, or icchen (“to move as with a jerk”), of obscure origin. Lacks cognates in other languages. Compare itch.

• IPA^(key): /hɪtʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪtʃ

A hitch (knot that attaches to an object)

hitch (plural hitches)

1. A sudden pull.
2. Any of various knots used to attach a rope to an object other than another rope[1].
3. A fastener or connection point, as for a trailer.

   His truck sported a heavy-duty hitch for his boat.

4. (informal) A problem, delay or source of difficulty.

   The banquet went off without a hitch. ("the banquet went smoothly.")

5. A hidden or unfavorable condition or element; a catch.

   The deal sounds too good to be true. What's the hitch?

6. A period of time. Most often refers to time spent in the military.

   She served two hitches in Vietnam.

   U.S. TROOPS FACE LONGER ARMY HITCH ; SOLDIERS BOUND FOR IRAQ, ... WILL BE RETAINED

   Stephen J. Hedges & Mike Dorning, Chicago Tribune; Orlando Sentinel; Jun 3, 2004; pg. A.1;

• catch

• (knot): See List of hitch knots on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• hitch one's wagon to a star
• unhitch
• unhitched

hitch (third-person singular simple present hitches, present participle hitching, simple past and past participle hitched)

1. (transitive) To pull with a jerk.

   She hitched her jeans up and then tightened her belt.

2. (transitive) To attach, tie or fasten.

   He hitched the bedroll to his backpack and went camping.

   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 8, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     Philander went into the next room, which was just a lean-to hitched on to the end of the shanty, and came back with a salt mackerel that dripped brine like a rainstorm. Then he put the coffee pot on the stove and rummaged out a loaf of dry bread and some hardtack.

3. (informal) To marry oneself to; especially to get hitched.
4. (informal, transitive) contraction of hitchhike, to thumb a ride.

   to hitch a ride

5. (intransitive) To become entangled or caught; to be linked or yoked; to unite; to cling.
   • South

     atoms […] which at length hitched together

6. (intransitive) To move interruptedly or with halts, jerks, or steps; said of something obstructed or impeded.
   • Alexander Pope

     Slides into verse, and hitches in a rhyme.

   • Fuller

     To ease themselves […] by hitching into another place.

7. (Britain) To strike the legs together in going, as horses; to interfere.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)

• (attach): affix, join, put together; see also Thesaurus:join
• (marry oneself to): splice, wed; see also Thesaurus:marry