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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cach(e, Catch(e, v. ² Also: kaiche, katche; p.t. and p.p. cachit(t), catchit; caucht (kaucht), cauch (kauch), cawch, kauth. [ME. cache, cacche, kache, etc., var. of keche, OE. *cǽcan. In Sc. mainly in verse, usually in p.t. or p.p., prob. after English use.]

1. tr. To catch (in various senses); to take.(a) 1513 Doug. iii. x. 51.
The scharp dreid maid ws so to cach [Sm. cache] haist 1560 Rolland Seven S. 291/7.
To his hart catchit was cairis cald 1571 Sat. P. xxvii. 104.
Thairfoir thir forayne fechis sa foirse, That cachitt we be nocht with the eftir-clap 1596 Dalr. I. 30/2.
He … walde clate him with his cluifes or kaiche [pr. kaithe] him on his hornes c1600 Montg. Suppl. 216/3.
Steicke the dur & cache me(b) ?1438 Alex. i. 184.
Duke Betys, that Gaderis aucht, Richt towart Tyre the way hes caucht To skaill the sege of that citie a1500 Rauf C. 382.
He caucht twa creillis on ane capill 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 638.
Thair lay I still in swoun … Quhill at the last my nymphe vp hes me caucht Id. Æn. i. v. 134.
The quene … has kaucht Towart the Troianys a ful frendly mynd Ib. x. vii. 101; etc.
Rhetheus start in betwix, and cawch the dynt 15.. Clar. i. 1306.
Ilk ane of ws come honour to conqueir, And pressoners all caucht as ȝe sall heir 1600-1610 Melvill 40.
He caucht him in his armes Ib. 70.
I … caucht his quhingar

2. To set about, proceed (to do something). a1500 Rauf C. 838.
Schir Rauf caucht to cule him, and tak mair of the licht