etch
English
/ɛtʃ/
verb
Definitions
- To cut into a surface with an acid or other corrosive substance in order to make a pattern. Best known as a technique for creating printing plates, but also used for decoration on metal, and, in modern industry, to make circuit boards.
- To engrave a surface.
- (figuratively) To make a lasting impression.
- To sketch; to delineate.
Etymology
Borrowed from Dutch, Flemish etsen (etch) derived from German ätzen (etch) derived from Old High German azzon (cause to bite feed) derived from Proto-Germanic *atjaną (make eat).
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*atjaną
Gloss
make eat
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- cryoetch English
- etchable English
- etchant English
- etcher English
- etchplain English
- etchplanation English
- microetch English
- overetch English
- photoetch English
- plain English
- planation English
- underetch English
- abätzen German
- ätzen German
- etsen Dutch, Flemish
- etsnaald Dutch, Flemish
- *h₁ed- Proto-Indo-European
- *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European
- *atjaną Proto-Germanic
- etja Old Norse
- ætse Danish
- azzen Old High German
- azzon Old High German
- etzen Old High German
- 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌰𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 Gothic