Topic: DRINK
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Sense: 1-2, 5-7
| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | PUNCH1 |
| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from Hindi pãc 'five'; because there are five things that go into it. |
| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | Probably from puncheon; POUNCE |
| Date: | 1800-1900 |
| Origin: | Punch character in children's puppet shows, from Punchinello, probably from Italian dialect polecenella 'little chicken' |
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punch2
1 [countable] a quick strong hit made with your fist (=closed hand)
2 [singular,uncountable] a strong effective way of expressing things that makes people interested :
3 [uncountable and countable]DFD a drink made from fruit juice, sugar, water, and usually some alcohol : 
a glass of hot punch
a glass of hot punch4 [countable]TZ a metal tool for cutting holes or for pushing something into a small hole
5 two bad events that happen close together : A meteorite collided with Earth at the same time, delivering a one-two punch to the magnetic field.
a one-two punch
A meteorite collided with Earth at the same time, delivering a one-two punch to the magnetic field.6 to express disapproval or criticism clearly, without trying to hide anything : The inquiry report doesn't pull any punches in apportioning blame.
not pull any/your punches
The inquiry report doesn't pull any punches in apportioning blame.7 to do or get something before anyone else does : Hitachi has beaten its competitors to the punch with its new palmtop.
beat somebody/something to the punch
informalHitachi has beaten its competitors to the punch with its new palmtop.