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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RAUCHAN, n. Also -en, raughan, -en, rawchan, rachan, -en. [′rǫxən]

1. A plaid or wrap, the traditional garb of shepherds, a Maud (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 263); by extension, a clumsy garment (Per. 1967). Also attrib. Fig. in 1814 quot. of the mantle of a poet.Per. 1774 Gentleman and Lady's Weekly Mag. (25 May) 174:
A sturdy young fellow about six foot high, in short blue cloaths, a rachan about him.Sc. 1776 Caled. Mercury (13 Jan.):
A man-stranger. . . . having on a rachan or Sanquhar plaid, stripped white and black.Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays, etc. 148:
An' a' the victuals that they had Was row'd up in a rachan plaid.Sc. 1826 Blackwood's Mag. (Oct.) 586:
She helpit him aff wi' his green tartan rauchen.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie i.:
Rabbie Burns an' Jamie Hogg didna carry awa' a' the poetry and sang on their shouthers. . . . Indeed, gudeman, had ye continued as ye began, ye wad hae riven baith their raughens.wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 327:
But ae stormy night, in a coarse rauchan rowed, At his door a wee wean skirled lusty an' loud.Fif. 1898 S. Tytler Mrs Carmichael's Goddesses xiii.:
The two in their knee-breeches and woollen stockings, their round bonnets and their “rauchens”.Per.¹ 1922:
But ne'er a bit he lifted his rachan aff the nail.Sc. 1983 John McDonald in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 46:
The sneep o yer rauchan
leems ablow the sterns -
'White-fish-in-the-net'.

2. A large scarf (Ags. 1905 E.D.D., Suppl.).Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.:
Cravat of large size, “A rauchan red roon's neck was rowed”.

3. A heavy woollen material like that of a rauchan, “of which the sailors' coats called Dreadnoughts are made” (Lth., Peb. 1825 Jam.; Per.¹ 1922). Used attrib. (Jam.).

4. An ill-thriving, ill-bred or poor-conditioned animal, mostly of sheep (Knr. 1958).