[ Perh. fr. Jack, the proper name + Prov. E. ketch a hangman, fr. ketch, for catch to seize; but see the citations below. ] A public executioner, or hangman. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
The manor of Tyburn was formerly held by Richard Jaquett, where felons for a long time were executed; from whence we have Jack Ketch. Lloyd's MS., British Museum. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ Monmouth ] then accosted John Ketch, the executioner, a wretch who had butchered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Prob. corrupted fr. Turk. qāīq : cf. F. caiche. Cf. Caïque. ] (Naut.)
Bomb ketch.
n. A hangman. See Jack Ketch. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. [ See Catch. ] To catch. [ Now obs. in spelling, and colloq. in pronunciation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
To ketch him at a vantage in his snares. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
pr>(?), n. [ Probably of East Indian origin, because it was originally a kind of East Indian pickles. Cf. also Malay k&ebreve_;chap fish sauce. MW10. ] A pureed table sauce made predominantly from tomatoes, flavored with onions, sugar, salt and spices; called also
n. [ D. schets, fr. It. schizzo a sketch, a splash (whence also F. esquisse; cf. Esquisse.); cf. It. schizzare to splash, to sketch. ] An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a representation of an object or scene as serves the artist's purpose by recording its chief features; also, a preliminary study for an original work. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
v. i. To make sketches, as of landscapes. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A book of sketches or for sketches. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who sketches. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a sketchy or incomplete manner. “Sketchily descriptive.” Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality or state of being sketchy; lack of finish; incompleteness. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner of a sketch; incomplete. [ 1913 Webster ]
The execution is sketchy throughout; the head, in particular, is left in the rough. J. S. Harford. [ 1913 Webster ]