culch

or cultch

[ kuhlch ]

noun

1. the stones, old shells, etc., forming an oyster bed and furnishing points of attachment for the spawn of oysters.
2. the spawn of oysters.
3. Also sculch, scultch []. Eastern New England. rubbish; refuse:

   The attic has been a convenient depository for more than 80 years of culch.

verb (used with object)

1. to prepare (an oyster bed) with culch.

culch

/ kʌltʃ /

noun

1. a mass of broken stones, shells, and gravel that forms the basis of an oyster bed
2. the oyster spawn attached to such a structure
3. dialect.
   refuse; rubbish

Word History and Origins

Origin of culch¹

First recorded in 1660–70; perhaps metathetic variant of clutch ²; but note Old French culche couch

Word History and Origins

Origin of culch¹

C17: perhaps ultimately from Old French culche bed, couch

Example Sentences

The technique involves coating the sea bed with culch - oyster shells recycled from restaurants and shucking houses.

From BBC

She admitted, though, that it would be harder to resurrect oyster beds in the UK where there is insufficient spat, than in the US where there is plenty of spat but insufficient culch.

From BBC

Culch. eventually lands a sole in a very damaged condition.

From Project Gutenberg

But I don't quite see why—— Culch.

From Project Gutenberg

Possibly I'm stupid but it seems to me that this makes it all incredibly worse�five people and all this culch loading up a common carrier in times such as these just to call upon an ailing aunt.

From Time Magazine Archive