Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1728-1790, 1841-1925
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SAUCHEN, adj., v. Also -in, saughen. [′sɑxən, ′sǫx-]
I. adj. 1. Made from willow, belonging to a willow, of willow (Bnff., Abd., Per., w.Lth. 1969). Hence sauchen-bush, -tree, etc., a willow, sauchen-bow, a hoop or curved handle of willow wood. Used as a n. in 1841 quot.Sc. 1728 Six Saints (Fleming 1901) I.95:
He caused dig a cave, with a saughen-bush covering the mouth of it.Per. 1773 in Fergusson Poems (Grosart 1879) 76:
Just jog on at the sauchen tree, And mak' a riddle.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 260:
As well yon bonny sauchen-shade Whare she first made his heart fu' glad.Abd. 1841 J. Imlah Poems 7:
A strain frae Strachan Will mak a man o' stiffest stock As swack as saughen.Gsw. 1863 H. MacDonald Poems 96:
When Spring ca's forth the sauchen buds.s.Sc. 1875 J. Veitch Tweed 172:
They brought him slow From the hills on a sauchen bier.Ags. 1901 W. J. Milne Reminiscences 24:
Cornel whips and sauchen whistles!Bnff. 1908 Banffshire Jnl. (26 May) 16:
He would “let oot” a raip which one or other of the young men would twine with a sauchen-bow thraw-crook.Abd. 1925 A. Murison Rosehearty Rhymes 42:
But they had been in Boyndlie Den Where sauchen trees grow bonny!
2. Soft, yielding as willow, flabby, languid, lacking in energy or spirit (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1969). Comb. sauchen-toup, a simpleton, an easy dupe (Kcd. 1825 Jam.) See Toup.Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 499:
A sauchin slav'ry slype.Abd. c.1760 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 97:
But d'ye think a saughin block Can furnish out a decent stock O' poetrie?Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxviii.:
He was aye a sauchen, saurless breet.
3. Tough as a willow, of persons, dour, surly, sullen and stubborn (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 147; Bnff., Abd. 1969).Abd. 1920 R. H. Calder Gleanings I. 8:
It needs an iron tenant to fecht wi' a sauchen laird.
†II. v. To make supple or pliable, like a willow (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).
[From Sauch, + adj. suff. -en. O.Sc. sauchin, = 3., a.1628, = 1., 1681.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Sauchen adj., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sauchen>
