Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WINCH, v., n.¹ Sc. form = Eng. wince.

I. v. 1. To wince, recoil, start back. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 441:
Let us enjoy'd at any rate, And winch not 'neath the lash of fate.

2. To kick, prance. Used tr. in 1812 quot. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. Hence ¶winchaboot, a cow's tail, in the riddle quoted below.Fif. 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair 75:
Each old wife in Fife's full-peopled shire Should frolic round her bard and wince a tott'ring reel.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man (1972) xii.:
The horse wincing and screaming all the while.ne.Sc. 1832 P. Buchan Secret Songs 3:
An' Oh gin ye cou'd bake me bannocks As well as ye can winch an' wannock.Gall. 1912 Rymour Club Misc. II. 21:
Fowre upsta'ners, fowre deedlean'ers, Twae lookies, twae crookies And a winchaboot?

II. n. A wince, a start (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 502:
Poor Petry gae a weary winch, He couldna do but baun.