zilch

plural zilches

1. archaiccountableinformalA nobody: a person who is worthless in importance or character.

   Dinglegoofer, Mr. Zilch, indefinite nicknames.

   1940, Lester V. Berrey et al., The American Thesaurus of Slang, §184

   2 more examples

   President Henry P. Zilch. Chairman of the Board Charles D. Zilch. Treasurer Otto Zilch.

   1931 July, Ballyhoo, Vol. I, No. 1, p. 1

   Bernarr MacZilch [for Bernarr Macfadden] and His Dynamic-Hooey System... The WEAKLING Who Became 'The World's Most Perfect Ass!'

   1932 February, Ballyhoo, Vol. II, No. 1

   Synonyms: absolute zero, also-ran, chopped liver, cipher, crumb, Joe Nobody, little guy, minnow

2. informaluncountableNothing, zero.

   Her search for decent home-made winter clothes came up with zilch, so she had to get imported stuff.

   1 more example

   "If the homeless wind up with zilch," James retorted, veiling his indignation behind a malevolent smile, "it's because they deserve zilch."

   1991, Judith Arnold, One Good Turn, page 104

1. USinformalnot comparableNo, zero, non-existent.

   Zilch, adj. Nothing, zero...

   1966, University of South Dakota, Current Slang

   1 more example

   ...gorgeous faces but zilch talent...

   1977 February 3, The Telegraph, page 14

present singular third person zilches · participle present zilching · participle past zilched · past zilched

1. USinformalhobbiesTo cause to score nothing, to thoroughly defeat.

   We zilched them on that rubber.

   1969, University of South Dakota, Current Slang

   1 more example

   My favorite film of 1989 got zilched... That would be Field of Dreams.

   1990 April 2, USA Today, page 20

   Synonyms: shutout

1. A surname from German.