▪ I. zilch, n. (and a.) slang (orig. and chiefly U.S.).
(zɪltʃ)
[Origin uncertain.]
Nothing, nil; also as adj., no; non-existent.
| [1931 Ballyhoo I. i. 1 (heading) President Henry P. Zilch. Chairman of the Board Charles D. Zilch. Treasurer Otto Zilch. Ibid. ii. 10 (caption) ‘Mr. Zilch, you don't often stay in so long.’ ‘No I don't often lose my bathing trunks.’ 1940 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §184/1 Dinglegoofer, Mr. Zilch, indefinite nicknames.] 1966 Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) Winter 8 Zilch, adj. Nothing, zero... What a day—zilch from everybody. 1967 P. Welles Babyhip ii. 25 Half-starved, no doubt. The old whore probably fed him zilch. 1973 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 14 Jan. 13/7, I feel that since I was elected to the board of directors last year I have accomplished zilch. 1976 New Musical Express 17 Apr. 6/6 My knowledge of classical music is zilch. 1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 27 June 2-e/2 In the light of data developed from the city's own 1975 studies, the 17th Street project rates zilch in priorities. 1977 Tel. (Brisbane) 3 Feb. 14/3 Gorgeous faces but zilch talent. 1977 Playgirl May 12/2 Our sex life is practically zilch, and he almost never pays any attention to me. 1984 Daily Tel. 8 Mar. 36/5 The power of the legislature over the executive being slightly better than zilch, any MP..who bounces the Home Office deserves a small roll of drums. 1984 Sounds 1 Dec. 38/3 Three further 45s ensued in 1979 and '80, plus an album which didn't sell. After that, zilch. |
▪ II. zilch, v. U.S. slang.
(zɪltʃ)
[f. zilch n.]
trans. In Sport, to prevent (the opposition) from scoring; to defeat. Also transf.
| 1969 Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) Winter 12 Zilch, to hold scoreless; to shut out... High school and college females, Ohio... We zilched them on that rubber. 1980 [see smoke-pole s.v. smoke n. 11]. 1990 USA Today 2 Apr. (Life section) 20/7 My favorite film of 1989 got zilched... That would be Field of Dreams. |