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: 1825, 1886-1966
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SLATCH, v., n. Also voiced form sladge. See also Sclatch. [slɑtʃ]
I. v. 1. To work or bespatter oneself in any messy substance, to potter or dabble in mud or the like (Slk. 1825 Jam., slatch, sladge; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1970); to bespatter, make messy.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
He slatched the wa' wi' glaur.
2. To walk through mud or mire, to wade about messily, to splash through mud (s.Sc. 1825 Jam., sladge, slatch; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1970).Slk. 1825 Jam.:
A slatchin day, a day when one has to drag one's legs through mire.
3. To hit with a resounding smack, to slap hard (Rxb. 1970).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A'll slatch eer jaw.
4. To fall in torrents, of rain.Abd. 1966 Huntly Express (28 Oct.):
The rain cam' slatchin' doon sae unca.
II. n. 1. A messy, dirty worker, one who dirties his clothes in a slovenly way, a slattern, a dirty coarse woman (Lnk., s.Sc. 1825 Jam., Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1970).
2. A wet and muddy place, a mire (s.Sc. 1970).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A glaury slatch.
3. A resounding blow, a slap, a heavy thud (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Cai. 1934; Sh., Slk. 1970).Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 69:
He coopit ower, an' cam' doon on his sate wi' a slatch, fair ip a da top o' da fire.
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"Slatch v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/slatch>
