Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bauch(e, Bawch, a. Also: baich, bache. [Of obscure origin. perh. ON. bag-r awkward, clumsy, or bág-r uneasy, in straits. The northern Eng. dial. form is baff.]

1. Ineffective; weak, poor, sorry; defective. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 143.
Me think the baid deir aboucht, sa bauch ar his werkis c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 140 b/33.
Thay boldin blerit bawch blobbis [= souters] 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 58.
Lythquo, lament, ȝour burges may luke bauch 1600-1610 Melvill 46.
He fand me bauche in the Latin toung 1608 A. Melvill in Calderwood VI. 743.
His secund and thrid [points] be against parishes and parish bishops, … wherin he is most bauche with his Platina [etc.]

2. Of strokes: Given with a staff or cudgel (in contrast to a sharp weapon). 1511 Crim. Trials I. 74.
[Cruelly striking his wife with] bauche straikis 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 460.
The said Henrie … than straik ane uther of the said Iames servandis with bauch strakis, and brak ane greit staff upoun him 1569 Ib. II. 62.
[Thay] straik the said Walter Chepman … with bauch strakis upoun his heid 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 303.
Wha … hundet out with bauch strockis … all the poure folkis of the toun … ? 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 495.
Alexander Bruce … straik thame with baich strakis. and maid thame bla and bludie 1593 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 85.
[He] patt violent hands on his wyff, geff hir many bauch and bla straiks and cuist hir our hir awin stair 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 174.
[The officer] so … bruised him with bauche and blae straikes that he hes ever lyin bedfast sensyne

3. Unpleasant; unsavoury. c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 355.
Sall Desperance sa schortlie be confound, Thocht he and I throw play fell in bawch pleid? a1585 Polwart Flyting 240.
Tak thee three bites of an black howre, And ruebarb, bache [T. baich] and bitter