to cheat by failing to pay a gambling debt.
You aren't going to welsh on me, are you?
to go back on one's word.
He welshed on his promise to help in the campaign.
the inhabitants of Wales and their descendants elsewhere.
Also called Kymric. Also called Cymric. the Celtic language of Wales.
one of a white, lop-eared breed of swine of Welsh origin that produces a large amount of lean meat.
a language of Wales, belonging to the S Celtic branch of the Indo-European family. Welsh shows considerable diversity between dialects
(functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of Wales collectively
to fail to pay a gambling debt
to fail to fulfil an obligation
The verb welsh and the noun welsher are sometimes perceived as insulting to or by the Welsh, the people of Wales. While the actual origin of these words may have nothing to do with Wales or its people, it is better to avoid any expressions linked to a negative stereotype that may have historically disparaged an ethnic or national group.
First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps special use of Welsh
Before 900; Middle English Welische, Old English Welisc, derivative of Walh “Briton, foreigner” (compare Latin Volcae a Gallic tribe); cognate with German welsch “foreign, Italian”
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Using registration data pulled from Seattle zip codes, the AKC found Labrador retrievers are Seattle’s second most-popular pup, followed by the French bulldog, Pembroke welsh corgi and havanese.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 21, 2023
Queso gradually migrated north to places where palates were used to creamy dishes like fondue and welsh rarebit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2016
After becoming an MP in 2010, Mr Crabb was promoted to the Cabinet in 2014 as welsh secretary.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2016
Tipuric is a much better player and think your welsh team would be a much better one with him in at 7 & Warbuton @6.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2015
My thoughts hovered over all varieties of mortal edible, and finally settled on a porterhouse steak and a quart of bitter with a welsh rabbit to follow.
From The Thirty-Nine Steps by Buchan, John
This was the end of the adventure in France, but the beginning of a glorious era for Welsh football.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Whereas Welsh national teams only used to dream of playing on the world's grandest stages, there is now an expectation they get there – and that stems from 2016.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Matt said Manchester-based punk band Loose Articles were the first band to come on board, as the drummer's mum lives in Cwmbran, as well as Welsh band Panic Shack.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
He has held ownership stakes in Italy’s AS Roma and Welsh club Swansea City and has served MLS as co-chair of the league’s sporting and competition committee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
“The Welsh are routed! Lindsay is saved once more!”
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
