Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Etch?

\Etch\, n. A variant of {Eddish}. [Obs.] --Mortimer.
\Etch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Etched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Etching}.] [D. etsen, G. ["a]tzen to feed, corrode, etch. MHG. etzen, causative of ezzen to eat, G. essen ??. See {Eat}.] 1. To produce, as figures or designs, on mental, glass, or the like, by means of lines or strokes eaten in or corroded by means of some strong acid. Note: The plate is first covered with varnish, or some other ground capable of resisting the acid, and this is then scored or scratched with 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. 2. To subject to etching; to draw upon and bite with acid, as a plate of metal. I was etching a plate at the beginning of 1875. --Hamerton. 3. To sketch; to delineate. [R.] There are many empty terms to be found in some learned writes, to which they had recourse to etch out their system. --Locke.
\Etch\, v. i. To practice etching; to make etchings.