n. [ Cf. Scot. clatch a slap, the noise caused by the collision of soft bodies; prob. of imitative origin. ] (Scot. & Dial. Eng.) 1. A soft or sloppy lump or mass; as, to throw a clatch of mud. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Anything put together or made in a careless or slipshod way; hence, a sluttish or slipshod woman. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. & i. To daub or smear, as with lime; to make or finish in a slipshod way. [ Scot. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A kind of latch whose bolt may be so locked by a detent that it can not be opened from the inside by the handle, or from the outside by the latch key. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A housebreaker or thief. [ Obs. ] Old Play (1631). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An informal group that gathers more or less frequently, especially for conversation; as, a coffee klatsch; a sewing klatsch. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. lécher to lick (of German origin). Cf. Lick. ] To smear; to anoint. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. læccan. ] 1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [ Obs. ] Rom. of R. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a door or gate when closed, though it be not bolted. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) A latching. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A crossbow. [ Obs. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Latched p. pr. & vb. n. Latching. ] [ OE. lacchen. See Latch. n. ] 1. To catch so as to hold. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts, sent them again at us. Golding. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To catch or fasten by means of a latch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The door was only latched. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. secured by means of a latch against opening.
Syn. -- fastened. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ OE. lachet, from an OF. dialect form of F. lacet plaited string, lace dim. of lacs. See Lace. ] The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; -- called also latch and lasket. [ Usually in pl. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A child who frequently spends part of the day at home without adult supervision, especially a school child who returns home before the parent(s) return from work. Called also door-key child. [ PJC ]

n. A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door. [ 1913 Webster ]

To find the latchstring out, to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.) [ Colloq. U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Chinook potlatch, pahtlatch, fr. Nootka pahchilt, pachalt, a gift. ] 1. Among the Kwakiutl, Chimmesyan, and other Indians of the northwestern coast of North America, a ceremonial distribution by a man of gifts to his own and neighboring tribesmen, often, formerly, to his own impoverishment. Feasting, dancing, and public ceremonies accompany it. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Hence, a feast given to a large number of persons, often accompanied by gifts. [ Colloq., Northwestern America ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ See Slack. ] (Naut.) (a) The period of a transitory breeze. (b) An interval of fair weather. (c) The loose or slack part of a rope; slack. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A strap of a bridle, halter, or the like, passing under a horse's throat. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Unlatched p. pr. & vb. n. Unlatching. ] [ 1st un- + latch. ] To open or loose by lifting the latch; as, to unlatch a door. [ 1913 Webster ]