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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.

Tas(c)he, n. Also: tach, tash, tech. [ME and e.m.E. tecche (Manning), tach (1340-70), teche, teiche (both 14th c.), tache (a1450), OF teche, tache.]

1. A spot, stain, blemish, flaw. c1590 J. Stewart 175/6.
As armein [sc. the ermine] dois from filthines repair, Preseruing so hir fynnest furring clair Of euerie tasche 1611 Crim. Trials III 159.
Who, vewing most pure and precious jeuellis, dois not … exercise thair curiositie to espy tasches in thame 1636 Re-examination of the Five Articles Pref.
If a man has a pretious jewel, hee will be exceeding carefull to keep it from any tash

2. fig. A moral stain or blemish; a fault, failing, vice. a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 5.
Sum ill techis [v.r. maneris] and ill thewis, That followis foull women & schrewis 1492 Myll Spect. 296/24.
Cheis thé a wyf cummyn of a gud hous … vnbrocht in evill techis 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 73.
He leived verie soberlie without any tash or blemish ?1662 Postscript for Lysimachus Nicanor 4.
No man without a great tash to his charitie, may begin … to doubt of your full Protestantisme

b. Imputation of fault or disgrace; slur, stigma; sullying, dishonouring. 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 362.
Without the least tashe or suspitioun of … such … wickednesse 1631 Red Bk. Menteith II 130.
Ȝour lordship's ennemies dois not prevaill to the tasche of ȝour lordships honor 1659 A. Hay Diary 143.
God … has been pleased to bring me thro it [sc. temptation] without any publik tash 1664 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 392.
His loyalty was never questioned before, yea, it was so well known, that he could not but reckon it was a tash upon him to put him to declare it by oath a1676 Guthry Mem. 93.
He would rather take a tash upon himself than let Argyle ly under such a blunder 1682 Lauder Observes 79.
The Duke of York … for avoiding the tach of ingratitude [etc.] 1684 Lauder Notices Affairs II 557.
Some thought our Privy Counsell would have … contracted some tach by this cruall torture 1685 Lauder Observes 216.
Few of our generall persons in Scotland had come to ther grave, without some tach or note of disgrace 1695 Tarbat Vindication Robert III 2.
In vindicating our royal line … from the tash of bastardy 1696 Fountainhall Decis. I 722.
Captain Callander having upon oath denied any trust in this case, now to find it, were to leave a tash of perjury upon him