ketch

Etymology 1

From Middle English catche, from cacchen (“to catch”). For the modern form with /ɛ/, compare the pronunciation /kɛtʃ/ of catch.

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 […] 1720, Daniel Defoe, Captain Singleton, London: J. Brotherton et al, page 313

Etymology 2

See catch.

verb

1. 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. 1815, D. HUMPHREYS, Yankey in England, I. 21
   You'll never ketch me hollerin' at no Republican gatherin'. 1916, W. O. BRADLEY, Stories & Speeches, section 18
   If so you gonna ketch hell. 1929, H. W. ODUM, in A. Dundes Mother Wit (1973), page 184
   You heard about that joke a dollar down and a dollar when you ketch me? 1967 Apr, Atlantic Monthly, 103/1
   Run, nigger, run, de patrollers will ketch you. 1968 S. STUCKEY, in A. Chapman, New Black Voices (1972), page 445

Etymology 3

From Jack Ketch, a hangman of the 17th century.

verb

1. (rare) To hang.
   'Squire Ketch rejoices as much to hear of a new Vox, as an old Sexton does to hear of a new Delight. 1681, T. FLATMAN Heraclitus Ridens No. 14
   Well! If he has a mind to be Ketch'd, speed him say I. n.d., Ibid;;. No. 18
   Ignorant of many of the secrets of ketchcraft. 1840, Fraser's Mag., number XXI, page 210
   1859, MATSELL Vocab. s.v. (Farmer), I'll ketch you; I'll hang you.

noun

1. A hangman.