A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1600
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Och, interj. Also: oche, ocht, hoch. [e.m.E. och (once, 1528), Sc. and Ir. Gael. och.] An exclamation of regret, sorrow or exasperation: Oh! ah! alas! 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 62.
Och [E. hoch, R. ocht]: was this it thou fenȝeit thé to do? 1513 Ib. vii. ii. 27.
‘Och!’ quod Ascanius, ‘quhou is this befall?’ 1513 Ib. v. 24. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3053.
Och, my lords, for the halie Trinitie, Remember to reforme the consistorie 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 158.
Och, Johne, thow did amis, Quhen that thow loste this name 1567 Satirical Poems iii. 4.
His sory sang was oche and wallaway! 1572 Ib. xxxiii. 401.
‘Och, Lord,’ quod he, ‘now gif me patience!’ a1578 Pitsc. II. 66/13.
Och, Lord God, such manifest lies … the scripture doeth not teiche ȝow c1590 J. Stewart II. 168/13.
Och, vold to God I mycht be pruif explaine My inwart treuth 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xiv. c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix. 1.
Och, luif, in langour heir I ly c1600 Ib. xxxv. 5, 25.
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"Och interj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/och>
