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thatch

1. Straw, rushes, or the like, used for making or covering the roofs of buildings, or of stacks of hay or grain.

2. (Science: botany) A name in the west Indies for several kinds of palm, the leaves of which are used for thatching. Thatch sparrow, the house sparrow.

Origin: OE. Thak, AS. Oaec a roof; akin to oeccean to cover, D. Dak a roof, dekken to cover, G. Dach a roof, decken 8cover, Icel. Oak a roof, Sw. Tak, Dan. Tag, Lith. Stogas, Ir. Teagh a house, Gael. Teach, tigh, W. Ty, L. Tegere to cover, toga a toga, Gr, a roof, to cover, Skr. Sthag. Cf. Deck, Integument, Tile, Toga.