Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DUNCHACH, DUNS(C)HACH, DUNSHEUGH, n.

1. A heavy blow, a thud (Mry.¹ 1925, dunshach; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 42, dunschach; Abd.¹⁵ 1950); a nudge (Per. 1900 E.D.D., dunsheugh).Mry. 1927 E. B. Levack Stories Old Lossiemouth 41:
An, mony . . . a dunt . . . an' mony a . . . dunchach got he.

2. “A big, untidy bundle of anything, mostly of rags” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 42; Bnff.², Abd.² 1941).Ib.:
Ge' me doon that dunschach o' cloots oot o' the hehd o' the press till a' see an' get a bit to row up ma finger.