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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Swa(t)ch, n. [North. e.m.E. swache (1512) the foil or counterstock of a tally. Also in the later Sc. and north. Eng. dials.] A pattern, sample or specimen (chiefly, or only, of cloth). Also fig.(1) 1571–2 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 65.
To Johne Hoip for gangin to Glaidismure with the swatch … about the laird of Sammelston besynes 1683 Sc. Ant. XV 27.
[They are] to import 2436 elnes of stone-grey cloth [for the dragoons uniforms] conform to a sealed swatch 1701 Edinb. B. Rec. XII 285.
Cloath … conforme to ane swatch presented at the councill table 1713 Sc. Ant. XII 20.
To get swatches for the archer garb and to make an estimate of the price(2) 1647 Sc. Jrnl. Topogr. (1847) I 95/1.
I … tryid for the neirest swachis of clothe I could find conforme to the orders reseuid 1663–6 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp 41a.
For swatches of stuffis 1681 Proclam. 11 April.
[The saids magistrats … shall send in with said inventar] swatches of the several stuffs 1690 New Mills Manuf. 219.
Orders … six pice of course blewes and two pice of grein and that swatches of the most fashionable collours be sent to David Maxwell that he may dye them conforme thertofig. 1688 Renwick Testimony Persecuted Presbyterian Ministers 19.
His plots and practices … do give some swatch and specimen of his former craft and cruelty 1693 Sage Fundam. Chart. Presb. Pref. Sig. c 6b.
Whoso reads the following papers, … may find such a sample of him; such a swatch (pardon the word, if it is not English) of both his historical and his argumentative skill … as may make it appear just … for any man to decline him