Word
loch
/ˈɫɑk/
Definitions
01a lake
n. a large area of water surrounded by land, specifically in Scotland.
n. a lake or large body of fresh water, particularly within the Scottish landscape.
“Loch Ness is famous around the world for the legend of its monster.”
“The hikers spent the afternoon circumnavigating the loch, admiring the way the mountains reflected in the still, deep water.”
British English · Dialect
Usage
Used almost exclusively in a Scottish context; elsewhere, 'lake' is the standard term.
02a sea inlet
n. a long, narrow part of the sea that reaches into the land.
n. a sea loch; a narrow arm of the sea or a fjord-like inlet, common on the west coast of Scotland.
“The fishing boats sailed deep into the loch to find shelter from the storm.”
“The rugged coastline is defined by numerous sea lochs that provide natural harbours for the small coastal villages.”
British English · Dialect · Technical
Usage
Often referred to specifically as a 'sea loch' to distinguish it from freshwater bodies.
Real-World Examples
“The bird was photographed flying over Loch Spelve, a sea loch on the south-east coast of Mull.” Etymology
Two main origins: * Borrowed from German Loch, a topographic surname for someone who lived by a hollow or valley. * From Scottish Gaelic loch (“loch, lake”), a Scottish topographic surname.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/loch