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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RATCH, n.², v.¹, adj. Also rach(e).

I. n. 1. A dog used to hunt by scent, a gundog or hound. Obs. in Eng. since 16th-c. In Sc. now only poet. or arch. Also attrib.Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 157:
O'er highest hearthery hills I'll stenn With cockit gun and ratches tenty.Sc. 1732 W. MacFarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) II. 306:
Three Wolves Heads erased supported by two Ratch hounds.Fif. 1812 W. Ranken Poems 68:
An' while ilk tarrier, hound, an' ratch, Securely sleepit.Sc. 1830 Scott Demonology 131:
Three raches, or hounds of scent, followed her closely.Sc. 1875 J. Veitch Tweed 56:
By her side seven raches running free.

2. A hungry dog (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 182).

3. A poacher, one who wanders by night (Slk. 1825 Jam.).

4. An impudent woman (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 182).

II. v. To range about ravenously, to ransack; to prowl (Rxb. 1967). Also in n.Eng. dial. Phr. to ratch and rive, to lay hold of in a rapacious and violent way (Lth., s.Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 149). See Rive.Bwk. 1801 “Bwk. Sandie” Poems 73:
Hens ratch'd through the house wi' greed.

III. adj. Vagabond, roving, shady, skulking.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 87:
Yere ratch kind o' rif-raf constables that comes about gliffin' honest folks out o' their wits.Sc. 1861 W. E. Aytoun Ballads I. 162:
A rach husband, as I heard tauld.