culch

or cultch

[ kuhlch ]

noun

1. the stones, old shells, etc., forming an oyster bed and furnishing points of attachment for the spawn of oysters.
2. the spawn of oysters.
3. Also sculch, scultch []. Eastern New England. rubbish; refuse:

   The attic has been a convenient depository for more than 80 years of culch.

verb (used with object)

1. to prepare (an oyster bed) with culch.

culch

/ kʌltʃ /

noun

1. a mass of broken stones, shells, and gravel that forms the basis of an oyster bed
2. the oyster spawn attached to such a structure
3. dialect.
   refuse; rubbish

Word History and Origins

Origin of culch¹

First recorded in 1660–70; perhaps metathetic variant of clutch ²; but note Old French culche couch

Word History and Origins

Origin of culch¹

C17: perhaps ultimately from Old French culche bed, couch

Example Sentences

A sort of pavement of culch, on the mud of estuaries, for forming a bed for oysters.

From Project Gutenberg