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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.

Hoch, Houch, n. Also: hoche, hocht, hoich; hogh, hogch; howch, hough, howgh; pl. howis. [ME. hough, howgh, houȝ, hogh, hoȝ (14th c.).]

1. The hough of an animal (esp. horse or cattle), man or woman.(1) 1465 Peebles B. Rec. 155.
Quhatsumeuir he be that brekis beif, that the hochis [be] brokin wyth the samyn a1500 Henr. Fab. 989 (H).
[A mare] Hurt in the hoche, and cruikit as ȝe may se Ib. 2561.
Vpoun my hoichis the seinȝeis may be sene a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 674.
Thair hors vith thair hochis sic harmis couth hint 1596 Dalr. I. 99/17.
The horses … vse to bow thair hochis and to pase throuch mony partes a1585 Polwart Flyt. 714 (T).
Thow puttis the spaven in the former spauld, Quhilk vsis in the hinder hocht [v.r. hoche, hogh] to be(2) 1513 Doug. ix. xii. 82.
Ane other … Of quham the howchys bath he smate in twa Ib. xii. xiv. 98.
Turnus … With faldyn howchis [Sm. houchis] duschit to the grund Id. K. Hart 795.
Quhill at the last in the hochis he cowris c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1347.
Thay … hackit on his hochis and theis 1568 Reg. Privy C. I. 632.
David Hume … woundit Adame Cokburne … with ane speir, in his hoch 1591 Ib. IV. 638.
Avowing to cut thair hochis gif euir he fund thame in his service c1650 Spalding I. 35.
His ordinar English gard, … haueing broun veluot cottis syde to thair hoche 1685 Erskine Diary 132.
I was now so sadly troubled with the swelling of my left hoch that I was scarcely able to stand or sitpl. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 190.
Hir cair is all to clenge thy cabroch howis 15.. Christis Kirk 189.
Syn tratourlie behind his bak Ane hewit him on the howis c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 68.
Ane mureland Meg that mylkis the ȝowis, Claggit with clay abone the howis

b. To cut the hochs, to hamstring. Cf. Hoch v. 1524–5 Prestwick B. Rec. 51.
The wrangus cwting of his suyne hochtys 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 231.
Captane Mitchall … gate a sword and cuttit the houghis of his owin suddart 1585 Reg. Privy C. III. 738.
Gif he sall happin to resorte to Kelso … they sall cutt his hochis 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 143.
Robert Blair … confessit the cvting of the hoch of Hew Galtis scheip

c. Attrib. with sen(n)on, sennown, sinew. (ME. houȝ senu, OE. hóhsinu.) c1475 Wall. i. 322.
His houch senons thai cuttyt in that pres Ib. v. 297.
His houch sennownnis he cuttyt all atanys, And left him thus 1513 Doug. x. xii. 29.
Palmus howgh sennonys [he] smait in tway

2. As a joint of meat, a hough or 'leg' of beef etc. 1528 Household Bks. Jas. V App. 13.
Empt. j hogch, fillett, j sparrib 1529 Ib. 150.
Empt. ... j hogch, j fillett