Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

*Hich, Hitch, n. [e.m.E. hitch (1664) a limp, a jerk, a check or impediment, a fault in strata in a mine, etc., f. the vb. (= Sc. Hich v.²).] a. To help (someone) forward ane hitch, to give him temporary assistance, help over a slight difficulty. b. In coal-mining: A fault or dislocation of the seam. —a 1637 Johnston Diary (1911) 259. b. For owerseting off ane hitch [£2]; 1645 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 144.
I begged God. [to] help forward ane hitch the son of his handmaid 1672 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt July 27.
For putting throw ane hich in the dyke 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 56.
For the hitch uorkeing 03: 00: 0 Ib. 58.
For putting over the 2^d hitch 01: 10: 0