ketch

noun

1. A fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel with two masts, main and mizzen, the mizzen being stepped forward of the rudder post.

   “[…] to finish her new Habit or Appearance, and make her Change compleat, he ordered her Sails to be alter’d; and as she sailed before with a Half-Sprit, like a Yacht, she sailed now with square Sail and Mizen Mast, like a Ketch; so that, in a Word, she was a perfect Cheat […]”

2. A hangman.

   “'Squire Ketch rejoices as much to hear of a new Vox, as an old Sexton does to hear of a new Delight.”

   “Ignorant of many of the secrets of ketchcraft.”

3. (UK, dialectal)A pie or turnover.
4. Synonym of Jack Ketch (“a public executioner”).

   “Hanging was indeed the popular remedy for all criminal disorders. The legislator found patients for it, the judge prescribed it, and the Ketch administered it with the same callous and gallows indifference.”

verb

1. (alt-of, pronunciation-spelling)Pronunciation spelling of catch.

   “I guess, he is trying to ketch mebut it won't du. I'm tu old a bird to be ketch'd with chaff.”

   “Wot is it, lambs, as they ketches in seas, rivers, lakes, and ponds?”

   “[…] I got to go to church and sweat and sweat—I hate them ornery sermons! I can’t ketch a fly in there, I can’t chaw, I got to wear shoes all Sunday.”

   “You'll ketch your death. The fire's out long ago.”

   “You'll never ketch me hollerin' at no Republican gatherin'.”

2. (rare)To hang.

   “Well! If he has a mind to be Ketch'd, speed him say I.”

   “1859, MATSELL Vocab. s.v. (Farmer), I'll ketch you; I'll hang you.”