touch
In Appalachian and Southern speech, a "touch" means a small amount. It’s a folksy measurement word used in cooking, health, and everyday talk.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard and used 'touch' all my life. Very common around here. Pronunciation
[TUHCH]
Meaning & Usage
- A small amount (cooking) (noun)
Mae:
Beans taste flat.
Beans taste flat.
Earl:
Add a touch of vinegar.
Add a touch of vinegar.- A slight case of illness or condition (noun)
Mae:
You feelin’ alright?
You feelin’ alright?
Earl:
Just a touch of the flu.
Just a touch of the flu.- A little bit; slight degree (noun)
Mae:
Feels cold out here.
Feels cold out here.
Earl:
Yep, got a touch of frost in the air.
Yep, got a touch of frost in the air.other spellings: smidge, mite, tad, pinch, add a touch of pepper, he’s got a touch of fever, and air’s got a touch of chill in it
★ "Touch" as a measure is about feel, not precision. It’s kin to words like "smidge" or "mite" - perfect for recipes, health talk, and describing the weather. ★
Origin
From Old French *touchier* ("to strike lightly, to feel"). In English it developed the sense of "a small amount," which stuck especially in Southern and Appalachian speech as a folksy measurement word.
Notes
Still widely used in the South and Appalachia. Outside the region, people understand it, but it doesn’t carry the same everyday, homey weight. Related to other country measurements like mite, tad, and smidge.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "tutch."