notch

notch
    n 1: a V-shaped indentation; "mandibular notch"
    2: the location in a range of mountains of a geological
       formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks; "we got
       through the pass before it started to snow" [syn: {pass},
       {mountain pass}, {notch}]
    3: a V-shaped or U-shaped indentation carved or scratched into a
       surface; "there were four notches in the handle of his
       revolver"
    4: a small cut [syn: {notch}, {nick}, {snick}]
    v 1: cut or make a notch into; "notch the rope"
    2: notch a surface to record something
    

Notch \Notch\ (n[o^]ch), n. [Akin to nock; cf. OD. nock, OSw.
   nocka. Cf. {Nick} a notch.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A hollow cut in anything; a nick; an indentation.
      [1913 Webster]

            And on the stick ten equal notches makes. --Swift.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A narrow passage between two elevations; a deep, close
      pass; a defile; as, the notch of a mountain.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Notch \Notch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Notched} (n[o^]cht); p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Notching}.]
   1. To cut or make notches in; to indent; also, to score by
      notches; as, to notch a stick.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To fit the notch of (an arrow) to the string.
      [1913 Webster]

            God is all sufferance; here he doth show
            No arrow notched, only a stringless bow. --Herrick.
      [1913 Webster]
    

238 Moby Thesaurus words for "notch":
      Vandyke, abysm, abyss, accomplish, achieve, alveolation, alveolus,
      amount, arroyo, birthmark, blaze, blaze a trail, blemish, blotch,
      box canyon, brand, breach, break, caliber, canyon, caste mark,
      cavity, chalk, chalk up, chap, chasm, check, check off, checkmark,
      chimney, chink, chop, cicatrix, cicatrize, cleft, cleuch, clough,
      col, compass, coulee, couloir, crack, cranny, crenellate,
      crenulate, crevasse, crevice, crimp, cut, cwm, dapple, dash,
      defile, define, degree, delimit, dell, demarcate, dent, depress,
      dike, dimple, dint, discolor, discoloration, ditch, donga, dot,
      draw, earmark, engrave, engraving, excavation, extent, fault,
      fissure, flaw, fleck, flick, flume, fracture, freckle, furrow,
      gain, gap, gape, gash, gorge, gouge, gradation, grade, graving,
      groove, gulch, gulf, gully, hack, hatch, height, hole, honeycomb,
      impress, impression, imprint, incise, incision, indent,
      indentation, indention, indenture, interval, jag, joint, jot,
      kloof, knurl, leak, leap, lentigo, level, line, machicolate,
      macula, make a mark, mark, mark off, mark out, marking, measure,
      mill, moat, mole, mottle, nevus, nick, nock, nuance, nullah,
      opening, pas, pass, passage, patch, peg, pencil, pepper, period,
      picot, pink, pit, pitch, plane, plateau, pock, pockmark, point,
      polka dot, press in, prick, print, proportion, punch, punch in,
      punctuate, puncture, range, ratio, ravine, reach, recess, register,
      remove, rent, riddle, rift, rime, round, rung, rupture, scale,
      scallop, scar, scarification, scarify, scissure, scope, score,
      scotch, scratch, scratching, seal, seam, serrate, set back, set in,
      shade, shadow, slash, slit, slot, space, speck, speckle, splash,
      split, splotch, spot, stage, stain, stair, stamp, standard, step,
      stigma, stigmatize, stint, strawberry mark, streak, striate,
      stripe, sunken part, tamp, tattoo, tattoo mark, tick, tick off,
      tittle, tooth, trace, tread, trench, underline, underscore, valley,
      void, wadi, watermark, win