Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1825-1872, 1923-1939
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AIRCH, ARCH, v. 1 Also erch “to aim carefully and hit neatly” (Cai.9 1939); “to fling, hit fair and square” (Cai. 1940 John o' Groat Jnl. (29 March); Bnff.2 1943). (See quots.) [ertʃ + ɛ] Cai.9 1939:
Erch him wi' 'at bool.Bnff.2 1931:
Johnnie airch't an' airch't, bit his gun never gid aff yet.Abd., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
Airch, to take aim, to throw or let fly any missile weapon with a design to hit a particular object. . . . It is not at all confined to shooting with a bow.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Airch. — To take careful aim, to prepare to let fly a missile, arrow, etc., so as to hit an object.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales, etc. (1837) I. 73:
Shoot again . . . an' O see to airch a wee better this time.
Comb. airchin-stock, a butt, target, used fig. in quot. Cai. 1872 M. McLennan Peasant Life 144:
His resolution to be no longer the "defenceless airchin'-stock o' wicked limmers."
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"Airch v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/airch_v1>
