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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Usche, n. Also: uche, usse, -a(y, usscho, us(c)hey, ushaye, us(s)chay, us(c)haw, uschea, -ie, (uscher), wsche, -(i)a, wssay, -ye, wsscha, wssy, -ie, oush. [Var. of Isch(e n. Cf. also Husche n., Ischew n., Issu(e n., Oysche n.]

1. Right or means of egress (from property), chiefly (fre) usche and entre. = Isch(e n. 2. b. (Right to) an outlet or outflow of water. = Isch(e n. 3 b.(1) 1423 (1429–30) Reg. Great S. 31/1.
Til haf entre and usscho within the said castel als oft as it is mysterful til us 1429 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 10.
The said Wilham … sall haf fre vsche and entre in the said castell … qwat tym hym lykis 1431–2 Newbattle MSS (Reg. H.) 20 March.
I … has layd … in wed tyll the forsaid abbot … a part of my land … with fre vsschay & entre in hous & in yhard 1433 Orkney Deeds vi.
Usse 1519 Reg. Panmure II 291.
Givis and grantis, to the said William … fre wsche and entre in his more of Panmure 1542 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 76.
Tre penne land … vyth fre wschia and entrens, fra the heist of the hill to the lawest of the eb(2) 1428 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 461.
Makand the said land … free at thair vscher lyke as ony of thaim resavis it at thair entre 1427 Melville Chart. 245.
The said Johne … hafand fre vsche of water … fra the loch of Lochgelly 1524–5 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 74.
Your ester pull sal haif fre uche

2. The end of a legal term, term of office or service, court session, etc., or a period of time generally. = Isch(e n. 4.(a) 1398–9 Acts I 211/2.
The qwhilkis … persones … sal delivre at vsche of that day qwhether the trewis of xxviij yher be til accept or nocht 1398–9 Acts I 211/2.
Fra the vsche of that day a grete messag sal be send in France 1442–3 Coldingham Priory 145.
[To] occupy and have the said office of bailyery to the usche of the termez of the said sexty yherez 1458 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V ii 804 (5 May).
He sal hafe the saide watter at the vsche of his termys furthe in assedatoune fre but ony gressum 1463 Aberd. B. Rec. I 23.
Fynd the childe of the brok of his gudis to the vsche of fyue yeris 1472 Reg. Cupar A. I 164.
The quhilk quarter Thom Cant elder has tak of to certan termys, the sade John Sperk entrand at the vsche of his tak 1483 Grant Chart. 35.
The forsaid landis … to be haldin … wyth court playnt, vsche off court and eschet of court 1489 Acts II 215/2.
That a proclamacioune be maid at the vsche of this parliament(b) 1696 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 795.
Oush(c) 1408 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 176.
Fra the tyme of the vssay of his terme with [the] erll of Mar … that he sal entir … into the seruice of the forsaide erll 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 124.
That day was the wssay of the chamerlan ayr(d) 1468 Peebles B. Rec. I 158.
Wscha 1521 Stirling B. Rec. I 12.
Wsscha 1534 Liber Melros II 629.
Vschay

3. pl. Proceeds or profits, in the shape of fines, of a local court of justice. = Isch(e n. 5 a. 1445–6 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 240.
The tende peny of all … vscheis of courtis eschaetis [etc.] 1483 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 205.
The teynd penny of all wardis relewis … wssyes of courtis … [etc.] … wssiez of courtis

4. The entrails of a butchered animal. = Isch(e n. 5 b.sing. 1567–8 Crail B. Ct. MS 27 Jan.
Thomas Kay … clemit … vij s. vj d. for malt tua schillingis for ane vssa 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 56.
Thre s. vj d. for ane scheip vsche 1599 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne III (19 Aug., 10 Sept.).
Ane scheipis vschie … vschey 1601 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 389.
Kowis vscha 1635 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 19 Nov.
Vschea 1638 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 589.
Ane kow vshaw 1640 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 617.
xxiiij s. for the pryce of ane beist vsheypl. 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I 25.
That na fleschouris teyme thair vschawis vpone the foirgate 1587 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 117.
That na middings ly langer in ony pairt of the toun nor xlviii houris at the farthest, and speciallie in the Kirk Wynd, and that na pouchis nor uschis be temit thair 1624 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 300.
xviij s. to John Barbour for muttones and vsches 1635 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 503.
Vshayes