From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Etch \Etch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Etched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Etching.] [D. etsen, G. [aum]tzen to feed, corrode, etch.
MHG. etzen, causative of ezzen to eat, G. essen ??. See
Eat.]
1. To produce, as figures or designs, on mental, glass, or
the like, by means of lines or strokes eaten in or
corroded by means of some strong acid.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The plate is first covered with varnish, or some other
ground capable of resisting the acid, and this is then
scored or scratched with a needle, or similar
instrument, so as to form the drawing; the plate is
then covered with acid, which corrodes the metal in the
lines thus laid bare.
[1913 Webster]
2. To subject to etching; to draw upon and bite with acid, as
a plate of metal.
[1913 Webster]
I was etching a plate at the beginning of 1875.
--Hamerton.
[1913 Webster]
3. To sketch; to delineate. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
There are many empty terms to be found in some
learned writes, to which they had recourse to etch
out their system. --Locke.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
etched \etched\ adj.
Cut or impressed into a surface.
Syn: engraved, graven, incised.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. Corroded so that the surface is matte and not fully
transparent; -- of glass.
[PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
etched
adj 1: cut or impressed into a surface; "an incised design";
"engraved invitations" [syn: engraved, etched,
graven, incised, inscribed]