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.
Quotation dates: 1624-1681
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Coucher, Coutcher, n. [Couch v. 1. Cf. ME. cochoure (15th c.).] One who lies down inactively or timidly; a poltroon, a base fellow. 1624 Melrose P. 578.
Gawane Ellott … ansuerit the deponner, that Gib wes bot a feeble coutcher, and wald neuir do the turne 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 147.
It is good … to goe to the camp with Christ, seeing he will not keep the house, nor sit at the fire-side with couchers 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. 26.
He thinks that belongs to butchers, And others, like Damaeta's coutchers [note clowns]
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"Coucher n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/coucher>
