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

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

Wesch(e, Was(c)h(e, n. Also: weicche, vasch. [ME and e.m.E. wasche (Prompt. Parv.), wesshe (c1440), wesche (1483), wash (1481-90), washe (1548), OE wæsc.]

1. Urine, esp. stale urine used in the making of medicines, potions, etc. Also proverb. b. comb.With Jurdane n., a chamber pot, and Tro(u)ch n. a vat or container. Also proverb.(a) a1500 Henr. Practysis 48.
This vntment is rycht ganand for ȝour awin vs, With reid nettill seid in strang wesche to steip 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4146.
Ane curtill queine … Of strang wesche scho will tak ane iurdane, And settis in the gyle-fat. Quha drinks of that aill … It will gar all his harnis rage 1544–5 Edinb. Guild Ct. 20 Feb.
To desist … fra all casting of … wesche jarbillis & siclik filth our the bakstair(b) 1558-66 Knox I 160.
Thow fals heretike [sc. Wishart] saidest that the holy watter is no sa good as wasche, and suche lyik 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 245.
The Dewill … ordenit … thame … to lay the droppis of the taid, mixt with strang wasch, ane edder-skyn, [and] the thing in the foirheid of ane new-foillit foill, in his hienes way 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 153b.
They make the claith wak and donke, casting vpon it washe, vrine, and other thinges to cause it weigh, and thereby halding a great quantitie of it out to themselues 1650 Brechin Presb. 22.
Shee … took an handfull of great salt and put among the wash, and gave it to the checkensproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 352.
Be his fute wes out of the stirrop, his heid was in the weiccheb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2474.
Ȝour mouth war meit to drink an wesche iurdenproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1305.
Quhen ye come in a gustles house, steir the wesch trocht about

2. A pool of water. 16… Symson Descr. Galloway 112.
The vatters gathring togidder betwix thesse knoulls, make almost innumerable locks and standing vasches

3. The action of washing. Only comb. with Barrell n. 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 362.
In the milkhouse … A burnestand. 2 wash barrells