# hitch

> English word · Noun · IPA /hɪt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #16,727

## Definitions
1. A sudden pull.
2. Any of various knots used to attach a rope to an object other than another rope.
3. A fastener or connection point, as for a trailer.
4. A problem, delay or source of difficulty.
5. A hidden or unfavorable condition or element.
6. A period of time spent in the military.
7. A large Californian minnow, Lavinia exilicauda.
8. A hole cut into the wall of a mine on which timbers are rested.

## Etymology
Probably from Middle English hicchen, hytchen, icchen (“to move; to move as with a jerk”), of obscure origin. Lacks cognates in other languages. Compare itch, hike.

## Easily confused with
- **hits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hitch-vs-hits)
- **hunch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hitch-vs-hunch)
- **hutch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hitch-vs-hutch)
- **hooch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hitch-vs-hooch)
- **hitched** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hitch-vs-hitched)
- **hit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hit-vs-hitch)
- **hic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hic-vs-hitch)
- **high** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/high-vs-hitch)
- **hath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hath-vs-hitch)
- **hick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hick-vs-hitch)
- **hatch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hatch-vs-hitch)
- **Hitachi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hitachi-vs-hitch)

## Common misspellings (8)
`hhitch`, `hicth`, `hitcch`, `hitchh`, `hithc`, `hittch`, `htich`, `ihtch`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hitch