thatch

 
Pronunciation: /θatʃ/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a roof covering of straw, reeds, palm leaves, or a similar material: the rain drummed noisily on the thatch above her head
  • straw or a similar material used for covering a roof: good thatch is difficult to obtain
  • [in singular] informal a person’s hair, especially when thick or unruly: a young man with a thatch of untidy blond hair
  • a matted layer of dead stalks, moss, and other material in a lawn: scarify the lawn to remove debris and thatch

verb

[with object]
  • cover (a roof or a building) with straw or a similar material: (as adjective thatched) thatched cottages

Derivatives

thatcher

noun

Origin:

Old English theccan 'cover', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dekken and German decken