inch

Meanings

Noun

• A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot, or exactly 2.54 centimetres.
• The amount of water which would cover a surface to the depth of an inch, used as a measurement of rainfall.
• The amount of an alcoholic beverage which would fill a glass or bottle to the depth of an inch.
• A very short distance.
• A small island

Verb

• To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).
• To drive by inches, or small degrees.
• To deal out by inches; to give sparingly.

Origin

• From Middle English ynche, enche, from Old English ynce, borrowed from Latin uncia ("twelfth part"). ounce, uncia, oka, and ouguiya.
• From Scottish Gaelic innis