Part 849

Hitch (hch), v. t. [Cf. Scot. hitch a motion by a jerk, and hatch, hotch, to move by jerks, also Prov. G. hiksen, G. hinken, to limp, hobble; or E. hiccough; or possibly akin to E. hook.] 1. To become entangled or caught; to be linked or yoked; to unite; to cling.

Atoms . . . which at length hitched together.

South.

2. To move interruptedly or with halts, jerks, or steps; -- said of something obstructed or impeded.

Slides into verse, and hitches in a rhyme.

Pope.

To ease themselves . . . by hitching into another place.

Fuller.

3. To hit the legs together in going, as horses; to interfere. [Eng.] Halliwell.

Hitch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hitched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hitching.] 1. To hook; to catch or fasten as by a hook or a knot; to make fast, unite, or yoke; as, to hitch a horse, or a halter.

2. To move with hitches; as, he hitched his chair nearer.

To hitch up. (a) To fasten up. (b) To pull or raise with a jerk; as, a sailor hitches up his trousers. (c) To attach, as a horse, to a vehicle; as, hitch up the gray mare. [Colloq.]

Hitch, n. 1. A catch; anything that holds, as a hook; an impediment; an obstacle; an entanglement.

2. The act of catching, as on a hook, etc.

3. A stop or sudden halt; a stoppage; an impediment; a temporary obstruction; an obstacle; as, a hitch in one's progress or utterance; a hitch in the performance.

4. A sudden movement or pull; a pull up; as, the sailor gave his trousers a hitch.

5. (Naut.) A knot or noose in a rope which can be readily undone; -- intended for a temporary fastening; as, a half hitch; a clove hitch; a timber hitch, etc.

6. (Geol.) A small dislocation of a bed or vein.

Hitch"el (?), n. & v. t. See Hatchel.

Hithe (h), n. [AS. h. Cf. Hide to conceal.] A port or small haven; -- used in composition; as, Lambhithe, now Lambeth. Pennant.

Hith"er (?), adv. [OE. hider, AS. hider; akin to Icel. hra, Dan. hid, Sw. hit, Goth. hidr; cf. L. citra on this side, or E. here, he. √183. Cf. He.]

1. To this place; -- used with verbs signifying motion, and implying motion toward the speaker; correlate of hence and thither; as, to come or bring hither.

2. To this point, source, conclusion, design, etc.; -- in a sense not physical.

Hither we refer whatsoever belongeth unto the highest perfection of man.

Hooker.

Hither and thither, to and fro; backward and forward; in various directions. "Victory is like a traveller, and goeth hither and thither." Knolles.

Hith"er, a. 1. Being on the side next or toward the person speaking; nearer; -- correlate of thither and farther; as, on the hither side of a hill. Milton.

2. Applied to time: On the hither side of, younger than; of fewer years than.