Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Codrach(t, Codroch(e, n. and a. Also: coddroch, codro. [Of obscure origin. Cf. Codderar. In later dial. codroch rustic, slovenly, dirty.]

1. n. An idle person of a low class. 1482 Reg. Cupar A. I. 235.
Batchell is let to John Ȝoungar, John Portar, [etc.], … and none of them shall have a cottar or codracht, under pain of fine (1588) Chron. Perth 58.
The slander … of young women … dwelling together as codrois 1621 Perth Kirk S. 300.
Adam Paterson complained upon certain coddrochs in Dionysius Conqueror, notar, his close Ib.
The Council and Session think it very expedient that, … the said coddrochs be removed 1636 Ann. Banff I. 75.
[Iohn Browne, etc.] who liwe idlie as codroches out of service in privat houses, haweing na laufull calling, traid, nor vocatioun 1639 Ib. 82.
Complaint … against the idle people and codroches within the toune without service and leivand unlegallie 1679 Ib. 159.
All codraches are ordered to remove from the burgh 1690 Ib. 165.
It is enacted … that all codraches within brugh be banished

2. adj. Belonging to the ‘codroch’ class. (1618) Chron. Perth 79.
An coddroch hussy keeped an house by herself 1627 Ann. Banff I. 57.
The idle, vagabond, and codroche people are to be warded till they find caution that they shall not return 1628 Ib. 58.
The haill idill pepill in codroche houses and in wther menis houses wnfied war decernit … to taik themselffes to serwice