Jump To:

• welsh
  welsh

  verb (used without object)

  to cheat by failing to pay a gambling debt.
• Welsh
  Welsh

  adjective

  of or relating to Wales, its people, or their language.

welsh

¹ American  

[welsh, welch] / wɛlʃ, wɛltʃ /

verb (used without object)

Informal: Sometimes Offensive.

1. to cheat by failing to pay a gambling debt.

   You aren't going to welsh on me, are you?

2. to go back on one's word.

   He welshed on his promise to help in the campaign.

---

Welsh ² American  

[welsh, welch] / wɛlʃ, wɛltʃ /

Also Welch

adjective

1. of or relating to Wales, its people, or their language.

---

noun

1. the inhabitants of Wales and their descendants elsewhere.

2. Also called Kymric, Cymric. the Celtic language of Wales.

3. one of a white, lop-eared breed of swine of Welsh origin that produces a large amount of lean meat.

Welsh ¹ British  

/ wɛlʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Wales, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English

---

noun

1. a language of Wales, belonging to the S Celtic branch of the Indo-European family. Welsh shows considerable diversity between dialects

2. (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of Wales collectively

welsh ² British  

/ wɛlʃ /

verb

1. to fail to pay a gambling debt

2. to fail to fulfil an obligation

---

Welsh ³ British  

/ wɛlʃ /

noun

1. a white long-bodied lop-eared breed of pig, kept chiefly for bacon

---

Sensitivity

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 Word Forms

• welsher
  noun
• non-Welsh
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of welsh¹

First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps special use of Welsh

Origin of Welsh²

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”

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

welsh Welsh

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

He needs to fill posts made vacant by those who stood down ahead of the general election, including the culture and welsh secretary posts.

From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2019

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

I used to have to warn him against black coffee and welsh rabbits.

From Side-stepping with Shorty by Sewell Ford

The Welsh government said the consultation would seek views on the proposed "enforcement framework", including "online age-verification arrangements, assessing compliance activity, sanctions, implementation timescales and monitoring arrangements".

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Welsh explained Phone First was scrapped in Belfast in order to prioritise other services that "we think would generate more benefit for patients and staff".

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

It has been hit by delays and rising costs and the Welsh government-owned rail operator has missed numerous self-imposed targets to bring the tram-trains into full service across the south Wales valleys.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Getting Minogue, who has described herself as "half Welsh" to be part of the project was even easier.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon — a Welsh Green.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---