welsh
[ welsh, welch ]
/ wɛlʃ, wɛltʃ /
Save This Word!
verb (used without object) Informal: Sometimes Offensive.
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.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Also welch .
Origin of welsh
First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps special use of Welsh
usage note for welsh
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.
OTHER WORDS FROM welsh
welsh·er, nounOther definitions for welsh (2 of 2)
Welsh
[ welsh, welch ]
/ wɛlʃ, wɛltʃ /
adjective
of or relating to Wales, its people, or their language.
noun
the inhabitants of Wales and their descendants elsewhere.
Also called Cymric, Kym·ric [kim-rik] /ˈkɪm rɪk/ . 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.
Also Welch [welch, welsh] /wɛltʃ, wɛlʃ/ .
Origin 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”
OTHER WORDS FROM Welsh
non-Welsh, adjective, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for welsh (1 of 3)
welsh
welch
/ (wɛlʃ) /
verb (intr often foll by on) slang
to fail to pay a gambling debt
to fail to fulfil an obligation
Derived forms of welsh
welsher or welcher, nounWord Origin for welsh
C19: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for welsh (2 of 3)
Welsh1
/ (wɛlʃ) /
adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of Wales, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English
noun
a language of Wales, belonging to the S Celtic branch of the Indo-European family. Welsh shows considerable diversity between dialects
the Welsh (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of Wales collectively
Also (rare): Welch
Word Origin for Welsh
Old English Wēlisc, Wǣlisc; related to wealh foreigner, Old High German walahisc (German welsch), Old Norse valskr, Latin Volcae
British Dictionary definitions for welsh (3 of 3)
Welsh2
/ (wɛlʃ) /
noun
a white long-bodied lop-eared breed of pig, kept chiefly for bacon
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