notch

plural notches

1. A V-shaped cut.
   1. Such a cut, used for keeping a record.

      The notches in that tribe's warrior axe handles stand for killed enemies.

2. An indentation.
3. A mountain pass; a defile.
4. slangThe female primary sex organ, vulva.

   If this Coin pass, no Man that lives, Shall dun for Past Debauches; Zounds, Landlords, send but in your Wifes, We’ll scow’r off all their Notches.

   c. 1720, “The Turnep Ground [A broadside song with music]”, in John S. Farmer, editor, Merry Songs and Ballads prior to the year A. D. 1800 (National Ballad and Song), volume 1, published 1897, page 224

   2 more examples

   He forced his prick between her reluctant lips, all slimy and soiled as it was from the previous enculade, then producing an enormous dildoe, nearly twelve inches long, and big in proportion, he put a little cold cream on it, and presented the head to her notch, trying to force it in. “Ah! No! no! that's so awfully large!” she almost screamed, but the head was partly in, and despite her sobs: and moans of pains, he soon succeeded in passing at least ten inches of it into her distended vagina.

   1880, “Lady Pokingham, or They All Do It”, in The Pearl, volume 12

   It was some time ere I recovered myself, and then it was through the teasings and ticklings of my lovely tormentors. I had a pallet made on the floor of the cabin from the beds in the staterooms, and putting the lights out, we lay down. I was in the arms of Isabel and soon well repaid her for the pleasure she had given just before. Thrice did I spend into the most secret recesses of her notch the warm and generous fluid which acts so powerfully on women, and then composed myself for sleep.

   1880, “La Rose D'Amour”, in The Pearl, volume 16

5. USslangA woman.

   These ladies from the west got game Who got the best, VA, DC, Georgia, New York, Texas, Louisiana, or Florida The Middwest got some super notches You eva seen Cali's finest, man, who could top us

   2003, “California Girls”, in Married to the Game, performed by Too $hort

6. businessA discontinuous change in a taxation schedule.
7. informalA level or degree.

   Can you speak a notch louder, please?

   3 more examples

   This car is a notch better than the other.

   a better team might also have done more to expose Uruguay’s occasionally brittle defence, but England’s speed of thought and movement in their attacking positions was a good notch or two down from the Italy game.

   2014 June 20, Daniel Taylor, “World Cup 2014: Uruguay sink England as Suárez makes his mark”, in guardian.co.uk

   Your doctor is one of the nosiest asari I've ever met. And that's saying A LOT. She needs to take it down four or five notches, or I won't be long for this show.

   2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Ugh!

8. businessA portion of a mobile phone that overlaps the edge of the screen, used to house a camera, sensors etc. while maximizing screen space.

present singular third person notches · participle present notching · participle past notched · past notched

1. transitiveTo cut a notch in (something).

   Synonyms: indent

2. transitiveTo record (a score or similar) by making notches on something.

   The tribe's hunters notch their kills by notches on each's axe's handle.

3. transitiveTo join by means of notches.
4. informaltransitiveTo achieve (something); to add to one's score or record of successes.

   The team notched a pair of shutout wins on Sunday.

   1 more example

   Jenkins booted a pair of field goals, Hopkins and George Nwokoji each notched a touchdown.

   2010 October 21, “Panthers' football team”, in Portland Leader

   Synonyms: notch up

5. transitiveSynonym of nock (“to fit (an arrow) to a bow”).

   Notching an arrow on the string of his tried and unerring bow, he raised his sinewy arms […]

   1885, John Niles Hubbard, An Account of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, Or Red Jacket, and His People, 1750-1830, page 31

   1 more example

   As Uncle Bunse threw his armful of stuff into the canoe, half a dozen other Indians crept forward, notching their arrows to shoot.

   1913, Massachusetts Reformatory (Concord, Mass.), Our Paper, page 530

   Synonyms: nock

6. transitiveTo change in small graduations.

   to notch back a salary