notchy

noun

1. an angular or V-shaped cut, indentation, or slit in an object, surface, or edge.
2. a cut or nick made in a stick or other object for record, as in keeping a tally.
3. New England and Upstate New York. a deep, narrow opening or pass between mountains; gap; defile.
4. Informal. a step, degree, or grade: This camera is a notch better than the other.
5. Metallurgy. a taphole in a blast furnace: iron notch; cinder notch.

verb (used with object)

6. to cut or make a notch in.
7. to record by notches: He notched each kill on the stick.
8. to score, as in a game: He notched another win.

Idioms

9. notch up/down, to move up or down or increase or decrease by notches or degrees: The temperature has notched up another degree.

adjective

1. (of a motor vehicle gear mechanism) requiring careful gear-changing, as if having to fit the lever into narrow notches

noun

1. a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick
2. a cut or nick made in a tally stick or similar object
3. US and Canadian a narrow pass or gorge
4. informal a step or level (esp in the phrase a notch above)

verb (tr)

5. to cut or make a notch in
6. to record with or as if with a notch
7. (usually foll by up) informal to score or achievethe team notched up its fourth win

v.1590s, from notch (n.). Earlier verb (before misdivision) was Middle English ochen “to cut, slash” (c.1400). Related: Notched; notching. n.1570s, probably a misdivision of an otch (see N for other examples), from Middle French oche “notch,” from Old French ochier “to notch,” of unknown origin. Said to be unconnected to nock. n.

1. An indentation at the edge of a structure; an incisure.
2. An upstroke or peak on a pulse tracing.

see take down a notch.