fitch

fitch · noun¹

1. Middle Dutch · borrowed fromvitsche“polecat”
2. English todayfitch

Shortening of fitchew, or directly borrowed from its antecedent, Middle Dutch vitsche (“polecat”). More at fitchew.

fitch · noun, verb²

From fitch due to the similarity to the striped or mottled pattern of polecat fur.

fitch · noun³

See vetch.

Fitch · proper noun⁴

1. Old French · derived fromfiche“iron post”
2. English todayFitch

English surname, possibly from Old French fiche (“iron post”). A connection with the noun fitch (“polecat”) is unlikely as the surname predates it by at least 300 years.

Words from the same roots