Talk:ketch

Disputing noun sense ''A hangman. See Jack Ketch.'' There apparently was a hangman of that name, but I don't think the word is in use for any hangman. Secondly, verb to catch. --Dmol 18:06, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

From the OED.
 * The hangman. Hence ketch v.1 trans., to hang; ketchcraft, the hangman's craft.
 * 1681 T. FLATMAN Heraclitus Ridens No. 14 'Squire Ketch rejoices as much to hear of a new Vox, as an old Sexton does to hear of a new Delight. Ibid. No. 18 Well! If he has a mind to be Ketch'd, speed him say I. 1706 Wooden World Diss. (1708) 80 For a running Noose, this new Ketch is but a Fool to him. 1840 Fraser's Mag. XXI. 210 Ignorant of many of the secrets of ketchcraft. 1859 MATSELL Vocab. s.v. (Farmer), I'll ketch you; I'll hang you.
 * Dial. var. (pa. tense ketched) of CATCH v.
 * 1815 D. HUMPHREYS Yankey in England I. 21, I guess, he is trying to ketch mebut it won't du. I'm tu old a bird to be ketch'd with chaff. 1865 DICKENS Mut. Fr. II. IV. xv. 287 Wot is it, lambs, as they ketches in seas, rivers, lakes, and ponds? a1883 [see KNUCK 2]. 1911 E. WHARTON Ethan Frome ii. 60 You'll ketch your death. The fire's out long ago. 1916 W. O. BRADLEY Stories & Speeches 18 You'll never ketch me hollerin' at no Republican gatherin'. 1929 H. W. ODUM in A. Dundes Mother Wit (1973) 184 If so you gonna ketch hell. 1967 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 103/1 You heard about that joke a dollar down and a dollar when you ketch me? 1968 S. STUCKEY in A. Chapman New Black Voices (1972) 445 Run, nigger, run, de patrollers will ketch you.
 * SemperBlotto 21:19, 24 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Hmmm... those citations could also relay a colloquial spelling of "catch". bd2412 T 22:53, 27 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Rfvpassed. Moved hangman to "to hang" & citations to article page. Andrew massyn 04:46, 28 October 2006 (UTC)