Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1786-1892
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†PECHAN, n. Also peghan, peghin. The stomach as a receptacle for food, the belly, maw (Slk. 1825 Jam., peghin). Prob. most of the usages are reminiscences of Burns. [′pɛçən]Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 62–63:
Yet ev'n the ha' folk fill their peghan Wi' sauce, ragouts, an' sic like trashtrie.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 27:
Whan we pang'd our pechans wi' sic like [food], there war nae asthmas.Edb. 1829 G. Wilson Sc. Laverock 167:
Altho' his pechan was quite full.Bnff. 1844 T. Anderson Poems 64:
Our pechans howe ware wearin' I trow that day.Ags. 1856 W. Grant Poet. Pieces 37:
If still we get our pechans packet, An' neist our backs an' hurdies thacket.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 129:
He puts in a bad purse that puts in his pechan.Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 306:
A cog o' fat brose in his pechan.
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"Pechan n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pechan>
