A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1475-1573
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Dreich, Dreigh, n. Also: dreych, drych. [ME. dregh(e, dreȝe, drei (c 1300), f. Dreich,a.]
1. On dreich, at or to a distance. Also of dreich. c1420 Wynt. iii. 33.
All othir off dreych than gert he drawe c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 1079.
Folow on dreich, giff that we mystir ocht a1500 Golagros and Gawane 110.
The tothir drew hym on dreigh, in derne to the dure 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 56.
My spous on dreich efter our trais sall hy 1513 Ib. x. xii. 65.
[The hunter] standand far on dreich with dart and speir … the beste assayis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 18.
The army of Britonis stude arrayit on dreich, nocht far fra thame 1531 Ib. 152.
The first battall was fochtin on dreich 1533 Boece vi. xiv. 215 b.
Ageit men and wemen … following euer the armye on dreich a1568 Scott xxvii. 33.
Quhen scho growis heich, I draw on dreich
2. The deid dreich, the dead level. 1546 Fam. Innes 115.
The samin lyis now in lenth and breid extending linialie … to the deid dreich of Hervis haucht 1573 Elgin Rec. I. 137.
Ane ruid of land … extendyng fra the Kyngis he get … to the deid dreych at the north part 1573 Ib. 142.
The hous and deid drych quhilk wes occupeit be Androw Ingland
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"Dreich n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Apr 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dreich_n>
