I. ˈinch noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ynce, from Latin uncia — more at ounce
Date: before 12th century
1. : a unit of length equal to 1/36 yard — see weight table
2. : a small amount, distance, or degree
is like cutting a dog's tail off by inch es — Milton Friedman
3. plural : stature , height
4.
a. : a fall (as of rain or snow) sufficient to cover a surface or to fill a gauge to the depth of one inch
b. : a degree of atmospheric or other pressure sufficient to balance the weight of a column of liquid (as mercury) one inch high in a barometer or manometer
5. : a small advantage especially from lenient or compassionate treatment — usually used in the phrase give an inch
•
- every inch
- inch by inch
- within an inch of
II. verb
Date: 1599
intransitive verb
: to move by small degrees : progress slowly
the long line of people inch ing up the stairs
transitive verb
: to cause to move slowly
sooner or later they begin inch ing prices back up — Forbes
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English (Scots), from Scottish Gaelic innis
Date: 15th century
chiefly Scottish : island