Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - notch

~1 n 1 a V-shaped cut in a surface or edge  (He made three notches in the stick.) 2 a degree or level on a scale of achievement, social position etc  (Her new book is several notches above anything else she has written.) 3 AmE a passage between two mountains or hills  (- see also top­notch) ~2 v to cut a usually V-shaped mark into something, especially as a way of showing the number of times something has been done notch sth up phr v to achieve something, especially a victory or a particular total or score  (The Houston Astros have notched up another win.)