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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.

SPRAICH, v., n.¹ Also spraech, spraigh, spreigh, spreich (Jam.), sprach (Ib.), spraach (Abd. 1929), sprauch, sprech, spryauch (Abd.). [spreç, ‡Abd. + spr(j)ɑx]

I. v. intr. To cry shrilly, scream, yell, shriek, make a whooping sound (Ags. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 178–79, spraich, spryauch; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), to squawk (Abd. 1971). Ppl.adj. spraichin', spryauchin', noisy, given to weeping or shrill crying (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 178–79).Abd. 1836 Abd. Shaver (Jan.) 213:
Three spraiching totums.Sc. 1838 Whistle Binkie 11:
At fairs, in the reel-house he'd caper and spreigh.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 86:
She didna fizz an' raise a spittin', Nor spraigh, nor bang.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 15:
Tak the sprechin crater oot o' her gaet, and gie't a walk.Ags. 1858 People's Journal (27 Feb.) 2:
Sax or aucht sprauchin' urchins.Rnf. 1880 J. Nicholson Poems 88:
Wha's that sprechin, makin' sic a din?Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 101:
T'o Time is spraechin, laek a fraeksit bairn, Ipo da bosim o Eternity.Sh. 1964 New Shetlander No. 71. 7:
Dere wis a fine ting a bairn sprechin in da doctor's airms.

II. n. 1. A cry, shriek, the sound of weeping or wailing (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 179).Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 55:
Wi' spraichs o' bairns, a royat pack, Loupin' and shoutin' at his back.Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 36. 15:
She, woman-like, had let oot a spreuch when she fell.

2. A small, active, noisy person (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 179).