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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wach(e)man, n. Also: watch(e-, vache-, waich(e-, vaiche-, vaych-, wech(e-, wetch-, weych-, weach-, ve(i)ch-, veych-. Pl. also wachismennis. [ME and e.m.E. wacche-man (a1400-50), wecheman (1447), wachmane (a1500), watchman (1535).] A sentinel, a guard in a military establishment; one who watches out for or guards against harm or danger. Also fig. = Wach(e n. 2.(a) 1477 Lennox Mun. 115.
With power to mak … for the keping of oure saide castell, connestablis, garitouris, wachmen, portaris, jeuelouris c1475 Wall. iv 225.
The wachman was hewy fallen on sleipe 1495 Acta Conc. I 427/1.
The feis and sustentacioune of a wachman and a porter quhilkis the said George Roule helde in the hous and tour of B. … in tyme of wer 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 232/2.
xi chalder of ate mele to be deliverit be the tenentis of the Strath of Menteth to the wachmenis mele 1521 Exch. R. XV 20 n.
Constabillis and keparis of oure saidis castellis with portaris, wachmen, jevellouris and garitouris under thame 1523 Mar & Kellie MSS 13.
Vacheman a1578 Pitsc. I 325/26.
He was sleipand in his bed … so said the watchemen of the gaird that watchit him 1587 Sc. Ant. VI 162.
Johne Scharvar, wachman in the Castell of Stirling 1591–2 Exch. R. XXII 232.
Wachismennis c1620 Sutherland Bk. II 364.
Hawe shearcheres and watchmen … to inform you of the destroyers of your game 1661 Soc. Ant. XXII 246.
The treuth of this last confession [sc. of a witch] … thrie men … wer on the watch that night, the fourth watchman being absent(b) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 451.
To iij waichmen at the schippis kepin in the new havin 1515 Treas. Acc. V 23.
To the waichman for his fee, iiij li.(c) 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 239/1.
With power to mak constablis, wechmen, etc. 1550 Breadalbane Doc. No. 73.
Wetchman 1596 Crim. Trials I ii 391.
M^cinturner wechman of the place of Tanestrie 1601 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 184.
Gang to the weachmanis hous in Stanivoid, and thair thow sall find baith siluer and goldfig. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 307.
Sum to thare freindis gat benefyceis … For euery lord, … Brocht in ane bird to fyll the nest, To be ane wacheman to his marrow

b. specif.A member of a town guard, = Wach(e n. 3. Also attrib. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 78 (B).
Wacheman 14.. Burgh Laws c. 78 (B).
The wachemen sal be chosyn comonly fra al the burges 14.. Acts I 37/2.
That in the tym of wakyng … thar sal ane wachman be haldyn to cum furth quhen that the wakstaff gais fra dure to dure quha sal be of eylde and sal gang til his wache [etc.] 1442 Edinb. B. Rec. MS 24 Nov. in J. D. Marwick High Constables of Edinb. (1865) 45.
The toune [to] be waket ilk nicht with sex persouns watches this winter, and that the watchemen be tane and sett be the baillies at the croce 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 8.
At the waichman be sufficiently boddin with harnis and wappynnys 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 8.
Ony waicheman that slepis in the nyght … sal pay vj d. to the seriandes 1523 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 71.
The communite hes ordanit iii wachmen to waik at everilk part of the toun 1526–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 83.
Weychmen 1528 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 96.
Vaichemen 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 114.
Veychmen 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 153b.
Veychman 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 127.
Vechmen 1535–6 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 161.
Volle Ellot … tuk vrangusly George Curror gray hors furtht of the lone of Alanhauch sevin yeir syne … for I vas veychman than and nychtlie sen syne 1535–6 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 162.
We ordand our vaychmen to vaik quhill cokcrawe as thai did effor 1574–5 Day-bk. J. Cokburn 1a.
To the four wachmen that keipit the portis in tyme of the pest 1587 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 507.
That … ane watcheman be putt at Brochtoun lon heid 1609 Crim. Trials III 42.
This deponar, vpoun the cry of the wechemen, followit tham [etc.]attrib. 1539–40 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 215.
That na man pas one the gait fra hie bedtyme furtht without the veichman word

c. fig.One who takes care of the spiritual affairs of others or of the church, a pastor. 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 167.
Being called to that office as ane watcheman ower hys flok 1570 Sat. P. xxiii 135.
Except the Lord be watche man of the hald, Quha walkis the same, thair laubour is in vane 1558-66 Knox II 410.
I wes ane watchman, bayth over the realme, and over the kirk of God 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xli 7.
Thow pure contempnit kirk of God … Thow wants ane watcheman that tuke tent, Baith nicht and day that nocht should noy thé 1600-1610 Melvill 309.
The Provinciall Assemblie convenit at St Androis, wharin the Lord's watchmen of the schyr of Fyff, being informit of the bissines and dangerus delling of the Papist Erles … began to wey the mater gravelie 1600-1610 Melvill 362.
The Watchmen and fathfull pastours of the Kirk of Scotland 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 552.
In such dark houres many are drawn away … whom the bold … preaching of Christ may reclaim; much therefore lieth upon the wachmen [pr. wath-men] at this time, that their trumpet may give a certain and distinct sound warning and exhorting every one [etc.]