Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†FOTCH, v., n. Also fo(a)ch, foutch. [fotʃ]

I. v. 1. tr. To shift, change the position of; specif. of changing horses in a plough; of turning scones on a girdle (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 247, foach).Fif., Lth. 1808 Jam.:
It is said that farmers begin to fotch, when the day is so far lengthened that the plough is twice yoked in one day.Sc.(E) 1925 “H. M'Diarmid” Sangschaw 31:
A muckle bleeze o' cones An' mither fochin' scones.

Hence comb. fotch-pleugh, (1) a plough that is employed in two yokings a day (Lth. 1825 Jam.); (2) a plough used for killing weeds, as in the dressing of turnips; “also called a harrow plough” (Id.); (3) a plough with horses and oxen yoked together (Abd. Id.).

2. intr. To shift one's own position, to budge, stir, in phr. fotch nor flee.Abd. 1794 Sc. N. & Q. (2nd Ser.) VI. 183:
I cud neither fecht nor fen, Nor fotch nor flee.Abd. 1839 A. Walker De'il at Baldarroch 12:
Tho' it was cauld as cauld could be, Yet he could neither fotch nor flee.

3. To exchange, in gen.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
I'll foutch with you, I will make an exchange.

II. n. An exchange of one thing for another (Id.).