A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1566-1615, 1687
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Lanch(e, Lainch(e, Lench, v. Also: lainsh. [ME. and e.m.E. launche, lawnche, e.m.E. lanche, to launch a boat (c 1400– ), to sail forth, put to sea (16th c.), and (14th c.) in various senses of lance (Lance v.1 and v.2). ONF. lanchier = OF. lancier Lance v.1The form lench is also mod. Sc.and lainch mod. north. Eng. dial.]
a. tr. To launch, or send out, (a boat). b. intr. To sail furth from land, push out to sea.a. 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vi. 1.
Classique immittit habenas, he louses the schippis and lanches into the sea 1615 Melrose P. 604.
Sum of the liuftenants men … lenchit owt thair boatis and followed them 1687 Bk. O. Edinb. C. XXVII. 137.
We went down to Leith to see the ships lenchedb. 1600-1610 Melvill 221.
In Tinmouthe … we ley sax days and, again lainching furthe, … we arryvit at Londone 1600-1610 Ib. 252.
We hoised seall … and lainshed furthe 1600-1610 Ib. 499.
Sen from hopped herbrie I mon now Lainche furthe again into the stormie sies
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"Lanch v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lanche_v>
