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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Isch(e, n. Also: ish(e, ich(e, ys(c)he, esche, eische. [f. Isch(ev. Only Sc. Cf. Usch(e n.]

1. The action of going out; egress. 14.. Acts I. 31/2.
Quha sa evir … sellis his lande … he sall be innouth and sall pas out … and … sall geyff to the aldyrman a penny for the ische and the tothir sall geyff a penny for the entre and his sesyng 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 104.
This castell wes sa straitlie kepit … that na man gat ische nor entres in the samyn but speciall conduct of the King 1561 Crim. Trials I. 409.
Violentlie … passand fordward to the … Castell-hill and returnand agane to the portis of the said burghe, vsand the samyn be ische and entre at thair plesour

b. A sally, sortie. 1375 Barb. xiv. 94.
Mony ysche … Wes maid, quhill thar the sege lay

2. Right, also means, of egress. Chiefly in the phr. (fre) ische and entré (entres), = free egress and access.(For further examples see espec. Entré n. 2 b, also Entra 1 b, Entrie 1, etc.) 1452 Douglas Chart. 78.
The said lord erle … sall haue fre entre and ische in the said castell at all tymes 1481 Peebles B. Rec. I. 189.
That the said land mycht haf interes in Sant Mychellis Wynd … with fre ische and intre vpthrow and doun throw to the Water 1547 Soc. Ant. XVI. 197.
Howssis, toftis, … fre eische and entreis with inpastor and outpastor, within dykes and without 1588 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 125.
That nane of thame [sc. houses] haif fre ysche nor entrie on the baksydis, bot onlie … windois 1602 Reg. Great S. 475/1.
Alsua frie passages, isches and enteresis to pas and repas in the gait 1629 Douglas Bequest (Reg. H.) IV. 30 March.
The said fore ludgeing … and peice wayst grwnd … with frie ishe and entrie tharto 1657 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 341.
To be holden … with frie ish and entrie 1697 Dundee Chart. 119.
[The lands, with all] buildings, yards, … free entry and ish, and with all … other commodoties [etc.]

b. Generalized, = Access. 1530 Glasgow Prot. IV. 35.
Wyth fre ysch in at the foyr ȝet to ane stair on the baksyd of the sayd place

3. A way out, outlet, exit. b. The outlet of a loch. 1375 Barb. vi. 363 (C).
His vit hym schawit the strat entre Of the furde, and the ysche alsua Ib. xiv. 354.
This fals tratour his men had maid, … The ysche of a louch to den

4. The termination of a legal term, term of office or service, or any period of time; the expiry of a lease, etc. 1425 Acts II. 10/1.
Certane mesuris … the quhilkis salbe gevin furth at Edinburgh at the ische of this parliament thidder continewit 1440 Ib. 55/2.
Al the froytis … sal remayne withe the said lord on to the ische of the said terme 1474 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 32.
Sen he was chosin alderman, and he to mak compt therof at the ische of his aldermanschip 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. 7.
Vil Vatson to pay … iij s. for the skath the hous vas vorth at his esche mare nor the entra 1531 Bell. Boece II. 112.
At the ische of the tent moneth 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 92.
Fre my entre to the ische of my office 1589 Edinb. Test. XXI. 54 b.
Efter the iche and outrininge of the foirsaid xiiij ȝeiris 1641 Acts V. (1817) 619/20.
Efter the isch and expyreing of the said secound nyntein ȝeires 1645 Ayr Charters 163.
To take beginning at the ishe and expyreing of the yeiris of the take 1664 Decis. Lords G. 76.
The tack otherways having all the … substantials of a tak, viz. entry, ish and duty 1705 Glasgow Chart. II. 291.
Beginning this new imposition from the ish and expiration of the said former imposition

5. plur. a. Proceeds or profits, in the shape of fines, of a local court of justice. 1406 (1427) Reg. Great S. 17/2.
To be had the said landis to the said Jon and his ayris with curtis and the ischeis of them 1415 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 36.
[The Bishop's] teynd penny aucht til hyme of relewis, wardis … eschaetis, or ischeis of courtis of ȝowris c1575 Balfour Pract. 278.
The schiref sall ... poind ... all movabill gudis ... pertening to the said over-lord ... and ... mak compt and rekning of the isches and profitis thairof to the king

b. The entrails of a butchered animal. 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 253.
All the flescheouris … , slairis of nolt [etc.] … , and als the vsaris of ischeis thairof Ib.
Vnder the pane of xl s. to be tane of the sellar of the ischeis … or the byar thairof; and that [there be] na slaing of nolt … nor yit na ischeis wessin at commoun wellis

6. The outcome (of legal proceedings), conclusion, decision. = Ischew n. 4. 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 29.
Hundreds of caussis … , where still thar was proces by way of declarator perseued, untill ish and event quherof parties … did still continue in … their imployment