ditch
UK[dɪtʃ]US[dɪtʃ]
n
A long, narrow channel dug into the ground, typically used for drainage or as a boundary.
v
To get rid of or abandon something or someone.
v
To make or repair ditches.
Etymology
The word 'ditch' originates from the Old English 'dīc', meaning a trench or an earthwork. This term is of Proto-Germanic origin, related to the Old Norse 'díki' and the Middle Dutch 'dijc' (meaning both a ditch and a dike). The semantic journey is straightforward, with the core meaning of "an excavation in the earth" remaining central. The verb senses, such as "to abandon," are metaphorical extensions from the 20th century, evoking the image of forcing something into a ditch or getting rid of it by the roadside.
Analysis
The word 'ditch' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes within modern English spelling. Its core component is the Old English root 'dīc', which functioned as a noun meaning a trench or a dike.
Examples
The farmer dug a ditch to drain the water from the field.
The company decided to ditch the old software and upgrade to a new system.
After the heavy rain, the ditch beside the road was filled with water.