roach

¹

[ rohch ]

noun

1. a cockroach.
2. Slang. the butt of a marijuana cigarette.

roach

²

[ rohch ]

noun

, plural roach·es, (especially collectively) roach.

1. a European freshwater fish, Rutilus rutilus, of the carp family.
2. any of various similar fishes, as the golden shiner.
3. a freshwater sunfish of the genus Lepomis, found in eastern North America.

roach

³

[ rohch ]

noun

1. Nautical.
   1. the upward curve at the foot of a square sail.
   2. (loosely) a convexity given to any of the edges of a sail; round.
2. hair combed up from the forehead or temples in a roll or high curve.

verb (used with object)

1. to clip or cut off (the mane of a horse); hog.
2. to comb (hair) into a roach.

Roach

⁴

[ rohch ]

noun

1. Maxwell Max, 1924–2007, U.S. jazz drummer and bandleader.

roach

¹

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. short for cockroach
2. slang.
   the butt of a cannabis cigarette

Roach

²

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. RoachHal18921992MUSFILMS AND TV: producer Hal , full name Harald Eugene Roach . 1892–1992, US film producer, whose company produced numerous comedy films in the 1920s and 1930s, including those featuring Harold Lloyd and Laurel and Hardy

roach

³

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. the amount by which the leech of a fore-and-aft sail projects beyond an imaginary straight line between the clew and the head
2. the curve at the foot of a square sail

roach

⁴

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. a European freshwater cyprinid food fish, Rutilus rutilus , having a deep compressed body and reddish ventral and tail fins
2. any of various similar fishes

Word History and Origins

Origin of roach¹

An Americanism dating to 1830–40 roach ¹fordef 1 and 1940–45 roach ¹fordef 2; shortening of cockroach

Origin of roach²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English roch(e), from Old French roch(e); further origin uncertain

Origin of roach³

First recorded in 1785–95; origin uncertain; posssibly a development of roach ²( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of roach¹

C18: of unknown origin

Origin of roach²

C14: from Old French roche , of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The tenants complained of bug bites and a growing roach problem.

From Los Angeles Times

There's a good reason roaches elicit a feeling of disgust when we see one scuttle past.

From Salon

The world’s most abundant roach, it lives only among humans—and we ourselves may be to blame for its spread.

From Science Magazine

As a single working mother, Phyllis can afford only custodial apartments, and those early evictions come when she complains too loudly about the roaches and maggots.

From New York Times

At her first Christmas party, the partner who hired her gave her brightly wrapped gift that turned out to be roach spray and told her everyone knew Puerto Ricans had roaches in their homes.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bhang
• cannabis
• dope
• hashish
• hemp
• herb
• tea