Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1714, 1778-1835, 1960
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LOUTCH, v., n. Also louch. [lutʃ]
I. v. 1. To walk with the head down and the shoulders hunched, to slouch (Fif. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Kcd., Ags., m.Lth., Wgt. 1961), to move in a crouching, awkward or furtive manner. Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1714 W. Fraser Hist. Carnegies (1867) 283:
Keep your head straight, and do not louch with your shoulders.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 162:
Thy hoary head and loutching shoulders incline to mortality.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 111:
And when ye weed them [potatoes], ye maun louch Just on your hunkers.
2. To pull down the brim of one's hat, to slouch.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 190:
And should she refuse, I'll louch my auld bonnet.
II. n. A slouching gait, a stoop (Abd., Kcd., m.Lth. 1961).Abd. 1960:
He gings wi a loutch.
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"Loutch v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/loutch>
