Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
DITCH
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English dich, from Old English dīc dike, ditch; akin to Middle High German tīch pond, dike Date: before 12th century a long narrow excavation dug in the earth (as for drainage),
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. to enclose with a ditch, to dig a ditch in, to make a forced landing of (an airplane) on water,
3. to get rid of ; discard , to end association with ; leave , intransitive verb to dig a ditch, to crash-land at sea