welsh

¹ American  

[welsh, welch] / wɛlʃ, wɛltʃ /

verb (used without object)

Informal: Sometimes Offensive.

1. to cheat by failing to pay a gambling debt.

   You aren't going to welsh on me, are you?

2. to go back on one's word.

   He welshed on his promise to help in the campaign.

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Welsh ² American  

[welsh, welch] / wɛlʃ, wɛltʃ /

Also Welch

adjective

1. of or relating to Wales, its people, or their language.

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noun

1. the inhabitants of Wales and their descendants elsewhere.

2. Also called Kymric.  Also called Cymric.  the Celtic language of Wales.

3. one of a white, lop-eared breed of swine of Welsh origin that produces a large amount of lean meat.

Welsh ¹ British  

/ wɛlʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Wales, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English

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noun

1. a language of Wales, belonging to the S Celtic branch of the Indo-European family. Welsh shows considerable diversity between dialects

2. (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of Wales collectively

welsh ² British  

/ wɛlʃ /

verb

1. to fail to pay a gambling debt

2. to fail to fulfil an obligation

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Welsh ³ British  

/ wɛlʃ /

noun

1. a white long-bodied lop-eared breed of pig, kept chiefly for bacon

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Sensitive Note

The verb welsh and the noun welsher are sometimes perceived as insulting to or by the Welsh, the people of Wales. While the actual origin of these words may have nothing to do with Wales or its people, it is better to avoid any expressions linked to a negative stereotype that may have historically disparaged an ethnic or national group.

Other Word Forms

• non-Welsh adjective
• welsher noun

Etymology

Origin of welsh¹

First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps special use of Welsh

Origin of Welsh²

Before 900; Middle English Welische, Old English Welisc, derivative of Walh “Briton, foreigner” (compare Latin Volcae a Gallic tribe); cognate with German welsch “foreign, Italian”

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, the expert panel pointed out that significant improvement should be possible in the Welsh NHS, due to the way it is structured and some of the ideas that underpin welsh health policy.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2025

Using registration data pulled from Seattle zip codes, the AKC found Labrador retrievers are Seattle’s second most-popular pup, followed by the French bulldog, Pembroke welsh corgi and havanese.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 21, 2023

Queso gradually migrated north to places where palates were used to creamy dishes like fondue and welsh rarebit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2016

Tipuric is a much better player and think your welsh team would be a much better one with him in at 7 & Warbuton @6.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2015

He must have a welsh rarebit; he had not had a welsh rarebit since he was at school.

From Mr. Prohack by Bennett, Arnold