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Latch vs Letch - What's the difference?

latch | letch |

As nouns the difference between latch and letch

is that latch is a fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side while letch is strong desire; passion.

As verbs the difference between latch and letch

is that latch is to close or lock as if with a latch while letch is alternative form of lang=en.

latch

English

(wikipedia latch)

Etymology 1

(etyl) .

Noun

(es)
  • A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.
  • * 1912 : (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 4
    • The cleverly constructed latch which Clayton had made for the door had sprung as Kerchak passed out; nor could the apes find means of ingress through the heavily barred windows.
  • A flip-flop electronic circuit
  • (obsolete) A latching.
  • (obsolete) A crossbow.
  • (obsolete) That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.
    • Derived terms
    * on the latch

    Verb

    (es)
  • To close or lock as if with a latch
  • To catch; lay hold of
  • :* Where hearing should not latch them. — Shakespeare, MacBeth , Act IV
    • Derived terms
    * latch on * latch on to * latch onto

    Etymology 2

    Compare (etyl) .

    Verb

    (es)
  • (obsolete) To smear; to anoint.
    • (Shakespeare)

    letch

    English

    Alternative forms

    * lech

    Etymology 1

    See (lech), (lecher).

    Noun

    (es)
  • (archaic) Strong desire; passion.
    • Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging the wrongs of others. — De Quincey.
  • (informal) Someone with an overly strong sexual desire.

    • Etymology 2

    From loec'' - later ''lache'', variant ''letch - for example Sandy's Letch located east of Annitsford in Northumberland.

    Noun

    (es)
  • A stream or pool in boggy land.

    • Etymology 3

    Noun

    (es)

    • Verb

    (es)
    • (Webster 1913)