roach

¹ American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

1. a cockroach.

2. Slang.  the butt of a marijuana cigarette.

---

roach ² American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

PLURAL

roaches

PLURAL

roach

1. a European freshwater fish, Rutilus rutilus, of the carp family.

2. any of various similar fishes, as the golden shiner.

3. a freshwater sunfish of the genus Lepomis, found in eastern North America.

---

roach ³ American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

1. Nautical.

   1. the upward curve at the foot of a square sail.

   2. (loosely) a convexity given to any of the edges of a sail; round.

2. hair combed up from the forehead or temples in a roll or high curve.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to clip or cut off (the mane of a horse); hog.

2. to comb (hair) into a roach.

Roach ⁴ American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

1. Maxwell Max, 1924–2007, U.S. jazz drummer and bandleader.

---

roach ¹ British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. a European freshwater cyprinid food fish, Rutilus rutilus , having a deep compressed body and reddish ventral and tail fins

2. any of various similar fishes

---

roach ² British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. short for cockroach

2. slang  the butt of a cannabis cigarette

---

roach ³ British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. the amount by which the leech of a fore-and-aft sail projects beyond an imaginary straight line between the clew and the head

2. the curve at the foot of a square sail

---

Roach ⁴ British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. Hal , full name Harald Eugene Roach . 1892–1992, US film producer, whose company produced numerous comedy films in the 1920s and 1930s, including those featuring Harold Lloyd and Laurel and Hardy

---

Etymology

Origin of roach¹

An Americanism dating to 1830–40 roach ¹ for def. 1 and 1940–45 roach ¹ for def. 2; shortening of cockroach

Origin of roach²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English roch(e), from Old French roch(e); further origin uncertain

Origin of roach³

First recorded in 1785–95; origin uncertain; posssibly a development of roach ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Go too deep into that realm, O’Malley said, and it becomes a “roach trap” from which “you never feel like there’s an exit strategy.”

From Salon

Inmates are housed in unsafe, dirty facilities infested with roaches and rats, Bonta said in a news conference Monday, and lack basic access to clean water and edible food.

From Los Angeles Times

As a former Houstonian, I can attest that the only thing more detestable than a roach is a flying roach.

From Salon

In the paper, they note something that sounds straight from a witch’s journal: “the strongest and most nauseating odor was observed towards midnight, attracting many flies, ants, moths and roaches.”

From Salon

Complaints about a lack of hot water, power outages, roach infestations and mold contamination have gone unanswered, according to tenants.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bhang
• cannabis
• dope
• hashish
• hemp
• herb
• tea