spitcher

Spitcher Naval slang word meaning "finish" or "terminated" used as either a verb or a noun.

• from the Maltese word "spicca" pronounced spit-cha of the same meaning.

• various theories exist as to how the word found its way into the English Language. Some opine that servicemen overheard Maltese natives pronouncing the word whenever a vessel was destroyed (hence "finished").

• although usage was restricted mainly to serviceman the term spitcher found its way into the Oxford Dictionary for some time. Lack of use seems to have lost it its place. However the word may still be found in the popular definitions boardgame Balderdash TM.

• Could be used in this way: "Following the head on crash, the car was absolutely written-off, practically spitchered!"