hitch

[ hich ]

/ hɪtʃ /

verb (used with object)

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.

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.

noun

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.

Verb Phrases

hitch up, to harness an animal to a wagon, carriage, or the like.

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schlep

to say or do hesitantly or awkwardly

to fold or wind around something

to carry; lug

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Origin of hitch

1400–50; 1840–50 for def 5; late Middle English hytchen, of obscure origin

SYNONYMS FOR hitch

1 attach, connect, hook.

2 yoke.

14 hindrance, catch, impediment.

ANTONYMS FOR hitch

1 loose, loosen.

OTHER WORDS FROM hitch

hitch·er, noun

Words nearby hitch

hit-and-run, hit-or-miss, hit-run, hit-skip, hitachi, hitch, hitch a ride, hitch one's wagon to a star, hitch your wagon to a star, hitchcock, hitchcock chair

Definition for hitcher (2 of 2)

hitch³

[ hich ]

/ hɪtʃ /

verb (used with or without object), noun Informal.

hitchhike.

Origin of hitch

First recorded in 1865–70; by shortening

OTHER WORDS FROM hitch

hitch·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for hitcher

I just had time to give the boat a shove with the hitcher when down it come.
Blue Jackets|George Manville Fenn

British Dictionary definitions for hitcher

hitch

/ (hɪtʃ) /

verb

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 mannerto hitch along

to entangle or become entangledthe 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

noun

an impediment or obstacle, esp one that is temporary or minora 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; pullhe gave it a hitch and it came loose

mainly US a hobbling gaitto 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

Derived forms of hitch

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012