What is hitch? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of hitch in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of hitch

hitchverb

/hɪtʃ//hɪtʃ/

Where does the word hitch come from?

The origin of the word "hitch" can be traced back to the Middle English term "hicche," which appeared in the 14th century. At that time, the word "hicche" was primarily used to describe a sudden stop or catch in breathing, as in the phrase "to have the hiccups." However, by the 15th century, the meaning of the word began to shift. It came to be associated with a device that allowed a horse to pull a heavy load, such as a cart or carriage. The Oxford English Dictionary defines this early sense of the word as "a contrivance for dragging a weight after a horse, consisting of a pole with a ring at each end, into which the horns of an ox, or the like." Over time, the meaning of "hitch" began to expand to encompass other uses. In the late 16th century, it was used to describe the act of catching a ride on a horse-drawn carriage, wagon or cart. The sense of the word then broadened to include any kind of transportation, such as trains, cars, or boats. Today, "hitch" is a versatile word with a variety of meanings. It can refer to the act of trying to catch a ride (as in "hitchhiking"), the act of fastening something (as in "hitching up your pants"), or the act of holding something in place (as in "hitching the tarpaulin to the roof rack"). The word's origins are still visible in these contemporary uses, linking back to its Medieval past, when it was used to describe a device that allowed heavy loads to be pulled by horses.

Vocabulary summary hitch

typenoun

meaningsudden jerk, sudden push, sudden pull

exampleto hitch (up) one's trousers

meaning(nautical) noose, rope knot

exampleto hitch a horse to a fence

meaningtemporary stoppage; temporary impasse; entanglement, difficulty, obstacle

exampleeverything went off without a hitch

typetransitive verb

meaningstartle, pull up; (: up) jerk up, pull up

exampleto hitch (up) one's trousers

meaningtie on, hook on, noose on, loop on

exampleto hitch a horse to a fence

meaningtry to insert (something...) into (a story)

exampleeverything went off without a hitch

Example of vocabulary hitchnamespace

meaning

to get a free ride in a person’s car; to travel around in this way, by standing at the side of the road and trying to get passing cars to stop

  • They hitched a ride in a truck.
  • They hitched a lift.
  • They tried to hitch a lift back to London.
  • We hitched a ride with a travelling salesman.
  • We spent the summer hitching around Europe.
meaning

to pull up a piece of your clothing

  • She hitched up her skirt and waded into the river.
meaning

to lift yourself into a higher position, or the position mentioned

  • She hitched herself up.
  • He hitched himself onto the bar stool.
  • She hitched herself into a sitting position.
meaning

to tie or fasten something to something else with a rope, a hook, etc.

  • She hitched the pony to the gate.

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