What does perc mean?
Perc has two quite different uses in modern English. As a noun, it names a freshwater fish belonging to the perch family, particularly the Eurasian perch, a predatory species common in European rivers and lakes. It is a less usual alternative to the more familiar common name “perch.” As a verb, however, perc is British informal usage meaning to hit or beat forcefully, and the related noun denotes a forceful or percussive blow. This sense is especially associated with police and violent contexts and is more restricted in tone than general words such as “hit” or “beat.” The two meanings have different historical developments: the fish name comes through French from Latin, while the verb arose by shortening “percussive.” Although perc can be understood from context, familiarity with the standard terms may depend on a speaker’s region and whether they encounter the word in fishing, policing, or informal speech.
A freshwater fish of the genus Perca, especially the Eurasian perch.
"The catch included a sizeable perc."
This use is less common than the general term perch.
A forceful or percussive blow.
"The suspect received a perc from the officer’s baton."
Chiefly British police slang or informal regional usage.
To strike or beat forcefully.
"He perced the door with a heavy boot."
Chiefly British, informal, and somewhat aggressive; associated especially with police and violent contexts.
The regular plural is used for multiple fish of the genus or for multiple blows in the informal noun sense.
"The fishermen released the small percs back into the river."
One word can name a fish in the water and, in British police slang, a forceful blow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does perc come from?
The fish word perc comes through French perche, ultimately from Latin perca, the source also associated with the English word perch. The separate verb and noun uses in the sense of striking or a blow derive by shortening from “percussive,” whose family comes from Latin percussus, a past participle of percutere, meaning “to strike through.”
Related word forms
How perc is actually used
The verb is chiefly British, informal, and somewhat aggressive; it is especially associated with police and violent language. The noun meaning a blow is similarly associated with British police slang.
Easily confused with perc
Perc is a less common name for a fish of the perch family, whereas perch is the usual English name for the Eurasian perch and several closely related species.