ditch
n
1 a narrow channel dug in the earth, usually used for drainage, irrigation, or as a boundary marker
2 any small, natural waterway
3 (Irish) a bank made of earth excavated from and placed alongside a drain or stream
4 Informal either of the gutters at the side of a tenpin bowling lane
5 ♦
last ditch a last resort or place of last defence.
vb
6 to make a ditch or ditches in (a piece of ground)
7 intr to edge with a ditch
8 Slang to crash or be crashed, esp. deliberately, as to avoid more unpleasant circumstances
he had to ditch the car
9 tr
Slang to abandon or discard
to ditch a girlfriend
10 Slang to land (an aircraft) on water in an emergency
11 tr (U.S.)
slang to evade
to ditch the police
(Old English dic; related to Old Saxon dik, Old Norse diki, Middle High German tich dyke, pond, Latin figere to stick, see dyke1)
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ditcher n
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ditchless adj