Hatch

Hatch has multiple meanings in English, functioning as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, a hatch is an opening with a cover that provides access to an interior space. It is used in ships, airplanes, submarines, buildings, and vehicles to access compartments, cargo holds, or machinery; such openings are typically equipped with hinged, sliding, or removable doors that can be secured against the elements.

As a verb, hatch means for an egg to break open and for a young animal to emerge. Birds, reptiles, and some insects undergo hatching after incubation; a newly emerged young animal is called a hatchling. The term is also used figuratively in the phrase to hatch a plan, meaning to devise or formulate a scheme, often in secrecy.

In architectural and engineering contexts, hatch openings are designed with safety and sealing considerations, such as watertight hatch covers on ships or access hatches in walls, floors, or ceilings. In art and technical drawing, hatch refers to the technique of using closely spaced lines to indicate shading, texture, or material, including cross-hatching.