# notch

> English word · Noun · IPA /nɒtʃ/ · frequency rank #9,926

## Definitions
1. A V-shaped cut.
2. A V-shaped cut.
3. An indentation.
4. A mountain pass; a defile.
5. The female primary sex organ, vulva.
6. A woman.
7. A discontinuous change in a taxation schedule.
8. A level or degree.
9. A portion of a mobile phone that overlaps the edge of the screen, used to house a camera, sensors etc. while maximizing screen space.

## Etymology
Recorded since 1577, probably a rebracketing of an otch, from Middle French oche (“notch”), itself from the Old French verb ochier (“to notch”), of uncertain origin, but possibly related to French hocher and English nick (“small cut, notch”).

## Easily confused with
- **nth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/notch-vs-nth)
- **note** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/notch-vs-note)
- **notes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/notch-vs-notes)
- **noted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/notch-vs-noted)
- **notice** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/notch-vs-notice)
- **not** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-notch)
- **Noh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/noh-vs-notch)
- **Noah** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/noah-vs-notch)
- **Nath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nath-vs-notch)
- **north** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/north-vs-notch)

## Common misspellings (8)
`nnotch`, `nocth`, `notcch`, `notchh`, `nothc`, `nottch`, `ntoch`, `ontch`

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