Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†HANCHMAN, Haunchman, n. The personal attendant or “right-hand man” of a Highland chief; a trusty follower or bodyguard.n.Sc. c.1730 E. Burt Letters (1815) II. 141:
The Foster-brother having the same Education as the young Chief, may besides that, in Time become his Hanchman.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley (1817) xvi.:
He counted upon his fingers the several officers of his chief's retinue — “there is his hanchman, or right-hand man.”Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch (1935) 118:
There would be his gillie-cois or haunchman, his gillie-mor to carry his sword and targe, his gillie-wet-foot to take him dry over rivers.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 173:
The haunchmen who stood by their leader in strife, To part from him only when parting from life.