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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ra(t)ch(e, Ratsche, n. Also: resch. [Var. of Ro(t)che n. Cf. 17th c. Eng. ratch a ratchet or ratchet wheel (1721), Germ. ratsche, raätsche.] The barrel of a musket or pistol. = Ro(t)che n.(a) 1583–4 Perth B. Ct. 10 March.
Ane ratsche of ane pistolat 1594 Edinb. Test. XXVII 227b.
Ane half muscat ratche price xl x., … ane ratche of ane hagbut price xx s. 1620 Wedderburn Compt. Bk. 73.
A ratsche of a gun of fyve quarter lenth 1631 Orkney Bp. Ct. 77b.
The said Hew … strack … the said James with the ratch of ane gunn … vpoun the head 1636 Edinb. Test. LVII 323b.
Rach 1638–40 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 21.
Ane outred pistol with ane irne ratch and ane tymber stock 1639 Ib. 209. 1640 Black Bk. Taymouth 348.
Ane muskett … graven vpone the ratch, with lunt work 1644 Irving Dumbartonsh. I App. 104.
Sevin ratches of guns, some longer, some shorter 1645 Acts VI i 438/2. 1675 Argyll Justic. Rec. I 63. 1679 J. Somerville Mem. I 467.
He began to rub and dry them [sc. pistols], when unhappily one of them went off. The ratch being lying upon his knee, and the muzell turned sydewayes, the ball strocke his brother 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 18.
Some had guns with rusty ratches, Some had fiery peats for matches(b) 1626 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers App. i 300.
Aucht pair of braisin reschis of pistollis with their plaittis