From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inch \Inch\ ([i^]nch), noun [Gael. inis.] An island; -- often used in the names of small islands off the coast of Scotland, as in Inchcolm, Inchkeith, etc. [Scot.]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inch \Inch\, noun [OE. inche, unche, AS. ynce, L. uncia the twelfth part, inch, ounce. See {Ounce} a weight.]
1. A measure of length, the twelfth part of a foot, commonly subdivided into halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, etc., as among mechanics. It was also formerly divided into twelve parts, called lines, and originally into three parts, called barleycorns, its length supposed to have been determined from three grains of barley placed end to end lengthwise. It is also sometimes called a prime ('), composed of twelve seconds (''), as in the duodecimal system of arithmetic.
12 seconds ('') make 1 inch or prime. 12 inches or primes (') make 1 foot. --B. Greenleaf.
Note: The meter, the accepted scientific standard of length, equals 39.37 inches; the inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. See {Metric system}, and {Meter}.
2. A small distance or degree, whether of time or space; hence, a critical moment; also used metaphorically of minor concessins in bargaining; as, he won't give an inch; give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
Beldame, I think we watched you at an inch. --Shak.
{By inches}, by slow degrees, gradually.
{Inch of candle}. See under {Candle}.
{Inches of pressure}, usually, the pressure indicated by so many inches of a mercury column, as on a steam gauge.
{Inch of water}. See under {Water}.
{Miner's inch}, (Hydraulic Mining), a unit for the measurement of water. See {Inch of water}, under {Water}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inch \Inch\, verb (used without an object) To advance or retire by inches or small degrees; to move slowly; as, to inch forward.
With slow paces measures back the field, And inches to the walls. --Dryden.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inch \Inch\, adjective Measuring an inch in any dimension, whether length, breadth, or thickness; -- used in composition; as, a two-inch cable; a four-inch plank.
{Inch stuff}, boards, etc., sawed one inch thick.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inch \Inch\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Inched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Inching}.]
1. To drive by inches, or small degrees. [R.]
He gets too far into the soldier's grace And inches out my master. --Dryden.
2. To deal out by inches; to give sparingly. [R.]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot [syn: {in}]
2: a unit of measurement for advertising space [syn: {column inch}]
verb
1: advance slowly, as if by inches; "He edged towards the car" [syn: {edge}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
81 Moby Thesaurus words for "inch": ace, amble, bit, bowshot, brief span, claudicate, close quarters, close range, crack, crawl, creep, crowd, dogtrot, drag, drag along, drag out, drive on, earreach, earshot, forge ahead, go dead slow, go on tiptoe, go slow, grovel, gumshoe, gunshot, hair, hair space, hairbreadth, hairsbreadth, hobble, idle, inch along, inch forward, jog-trot, laze, limp, little, little ways, mosey, muddle through, nightwalk, pad, pistol shot, poke, poke along, press forward, press on, prowl, push, push forward, push on, pussyfoot, saunter, scrabble, scramble, short distance, short piece, short way, shuffle along, sidle, slink, snake, sneak, span, spitting distance, stagger along, steal, steal along, step, stroll, tippytoe, tiptoe, toddle, toddle along, totter along, traipse, waddle, walk, worm, worm along
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