From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Ditch \Ditch\ (?; 224), n.; pl. Ditches. [OE. dich, orig. the same word as dik. See Dike.] 1. A trench made in the earth by digging, particularly a trench for draining wet land, for guarding or fencing inclosures, or for preventing an approach to a town or fortress. In the latter sense, it is called also a moat or a fosse. [1913 Webster] 2. Any long, narrow receptacle for water on the surface of the earth. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Ditch \Ditch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ditched; p. pr. & vb. n. Ditching.] 1. To dig a ditch or ditches in; to drain by a ditch or ditches; as, to ditch moist land. [1913 Webster] 2. To surround with a ditch. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. To throw into a ditch; as, the engine was ditched and turned on its side. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Ditch \Ditch\, v. i. To dig a ditch or ditches. --Swift. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: ditch n 1: a long narrow excavation in the earth 2: any small natural waterway v 1: forsake; "ditch a lover" 2: throw away; "Chuck these old notes" [syn: chuck, ditch] 3: sever all ties with, usually unceremoniously or irresponsibly; "The company dumped him after many years of service"; "She dumped her boyfriend when she fell in love with a rich man" [syn: dump, ditch] 4: make an emergency landing on water 5: crash or crash-land; "ditch a car"; "ditch a plane" 6: cut a trench in, as for drainage; "ditch the land to drain it"; "trench the fields" [syn: trench, ditch]