Is WYCH a valid word?

WYCH is a word for the wych elm, a large elm tree of Europe with broad leaves; its plural is WYCHES. It has no A, E, I, O or U, and its W, Y, C and H are worth 15 points together, a strong score for four tiles. It is not related to the word witch, despite the sound. Picture a broad old elm in an English churchyard. Woodworkers have long valued wych elm for its tough, interlocking grain. It also appears in wych hazel, an older spelling of witch hazel. It is the only four-letter word with no A, E, I, O or U that scores 15 or more.

Before any bonus squares: W 4 + Y 4 + C 3 + H 4 = 15. On a double-word square that's 30, on a triple-word 45, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the W on a 3L square and WYCH is worth 23 before any word bonus.

Swap any one letter of WYCH and these are still words:

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters W, Y, C and H.

WYCH is a kind of elm tree, the wych elm.

• Words without vowels

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