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Dretch vs Drench - What's the difference?

dretch | drench |

As verbs the difference between dretch and drench

is that dretch is to vex; grill; trouble; oppress while drench is to soak, to make very wet.

As nouns the difference between dretch and drench

is that dretch is an idle wench; a slattern while drench is a draught administered to an animal.

dretch

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) dretchen, drecchen, drechen, from (etyl) .

Verb

(es)
  • To vex; grill; trouble; oppress.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) dretchen, drecchen, drechen, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l) (Scotland)

    Verb

    (es)
  • To delay; linger; tarry.
  • To move slowly and heavily; dawdle; loiter.
  • Noun

    (dretches)
  • An idle wench; a slattern.
  • A person slow in the execution of a job; a dawdler.
  • drench

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) drenchen, from (etyl) . More at drink.

    Noun

    (es)
  • A draught administered to an animal.
  • (obsolete) A drink; a draught; specifically, a potion of medicine poured or forced down the throat; also, a potion that causes purging.
  • * Dryden
  • A drench of wine.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Give my roan horse a drench .

    Verb

  • To soak, to make very wet.
  • * Dryden
  • Now dam the ditches and the floods restrain; / Their moisture has already drenched the plain.
  • To cause to drink; especially, to dose (e.g. a horse) with medicine by force.
  • Etymology 2

    Anglo-Saxon dreng warrior, soldier, akin to Icelandic drengr.

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete, UK) A military vassal, mentioned in the Domesday Book.
  • (Burrill)