Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for hitch on Thesaurus.com to fasten or tie, especially temporarily, by means of a hook, rope, strap, etc.; tether: Steve hitched the horse to one of the posts. to harness (an animal) to a vehicle (often followed by up ). to raise with jerks (usually followed by up ); hike up: to hitch up one's trousers. to move or draw (something) with a jerk. Slang to bind by marriage vows; unite in marriage; marry: They got hitched in '79. to catch, as on a projection; snag: He hitched his jeans on a nail and tore them. Show More
verb (used without object) to stick, as when caught. to fasten oneself or itself to something (often followed by on ). to move roughly or jerkily: The old buggy hitched along. to hobble or limp. Show More
the act or fact of fastening, as to something, especially temporarily. any of various knots or loops made to attach a rope to something in such a way as to be readily loosened. Compare bend1 (def 17) . Military Slang a period of military service: a three-year hitch in the Navy. an unexpected difficulty, obstacle, delay, etc.: a hitch in our plans for the picnic. a hitching movement; jerk or pull. a hitching gait; a hobble or limp. a fastening that joins a movable tool to the mechanism that pulls it. Mining a fault having a throw less than the thickness of a coal seam being mined. a notch cut in a wall or the like to hold the end of a stull or other timber. Show More
hitch up , to harness an animal to a wagon, carriage, or the like. Show More
Origin of hitch 1 1400–50; 1840–50 for def 5 ; late Middle English hytchen, of obscure origin
Related forms hitch·er , noun a minnow, Lavinia exilicauda, inhabiting streams in the area of San Francisco and the Sacramento River basin. Show More
Origin of hitch 2 origin uncertain
verb (used with or without object), noun Informal hitchhike .Show More
Origin of hitch 3 First recorded in 1865–70; by shortening
Related forms hitch·er , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for hitch interruption ,
mishap ,
snag ,
glitch ,
drawback ,
impediment ,
snafu ,
hindrance ,
tether ,
joker ,
stoppage ,
bug ,
delay ,
hang-up ,
catch ,
discontinuance ,
trouble ,
tangle ,
check ,
block Examples from the Web for hitch Contemporary Examples of hitch When Hitch is feeling good, when he is not in pain, he throws himself into the business of preproduction.
Hitch picks up his cane, pushes her aside, and laboriously tries to get to his feet, saying, “I'll do it myself.”
In 1945 or 1946, Hitch and Alma were in New York with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, on a publicity tour.
After everything is in order and the call has been placed, Hitch picks up the receiver and says “How do you do?”
For weeks preceding the bash, Hitch refuses to have anything to do with it.
Historical Examples of hitch Now, constable, do you want to hitch the other end of that arrangement on my wrist?
There had been a hitch at her last funeral, but she had been only an assistant there.
Then they had gathered around to hitch rides, and had been in control ever since.
Friendship reigned without a hitch from one end of the feast to the other.
I expect he's all right, and there's been some hitch in getting the news through.
British Dictionary definitions for hitch to fasten or become fastened with a knot or tie, esp temporarily (often foll by up) to connect (a horse, team, etc); harness (tr often foll by up ) to pull up (the trousers, a skirt, etc) with a quick jerk (intr) mainly US to move in a halting manner to hitch along to entangle or become entangled the thread was hitched on the reel (tr; passive) slang to marry (esp in the phrase get hitched ) informal to obtain (a ride or rides) by hitchhiking Show More
an impediment or obstacle, esp one that is temporary or minor a hitch in the proceedings a knot for fastening a rope to posts, other ropes, etc, that can be undone by pulling against the direction of the strain that holds it a sudden jerk; tug; pull he gave it a hitch and it came loose mainly US a hobbling gait to walk with a hitch a device used for fastening informal a ride obtained by hitchhiking US and Canadian slang a period of time spent in prison, in the army, etc Show More
Derived Forms hitcher , noun Word Origin for hitch C15: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for hitch v. mid-15c., probably from Middle English icchen "to move as with a jerk, to stir" (c.1200). It lacks cognates in other languages. The connection with icchen may be in notion of "hitching up" pants or boots with a jerking motion. Sense of "become fastened," especially by a hook, first recorded 1570s, originally nautical. Meaning "to marry" is from 1844 (to hitch horses together "get along well," especially of married couples, is from 1837, American English). Short for hitchhike (v.) by 1931. Related: Hitched ; hitching .
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n. 1660s, "a limp or hobble;" 1670s, "an abrupt movement," from hitch (v.). Meaning "a means by which a rope is made fast" is from 1769, nautical. The sense of "obstruction" is first recorded 1748; military sense of "enlistment" is from 1835.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
