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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EECHIE (N)OR OCHIE, n.phr. Also eachy (eechy) nor oochy; †ichie nor ochi(e) (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang.); †eeghie nor oghie (Ags. 1808 Jam.); †eek nor ochie (Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 38); †ech nor och (Abd. 1873 P. Buchan Inglismill 29); igh nor oghie (Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 142); ecchie nor ochie, aichie nor ochie (Abd. 2000s). Always in neg. sentences: (n)either one thing (n)or another; (not) the smallest word or sound; hence, absolutely nothing (Bnff.², Abd.², Ags.², Slg.³, Lnk.¹¹ 1942). [′iç(i) (n)ər ′ox]Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 49:
Ichie or ochi now ye winna hear.Abd. 1845 T. Denham Poems, etc. 185:
The lassie's been three times marriet, an' her present man that she has the noo, faith, he's neither eechie nor ochie.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) vi.:
A puckle things like laddies' girds and draigons, that nae livin' sowl cud mak' ether eechie or ochie o?Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Back o' Benachie 70:
Ye're beginnin' unco e'er; I doot, Geordie, ye winna be sayin' eachy nor oochy by this time the morn. [The form eechy nor oochy is found on p. 27.]m.Lth. 1915 Gsw. Herald (22 Nov.):
He's eaten nithing for twae days — neither eechie nor ochie, green nor grey.wm.Sc. 1988 Christine Marion Fraser Storm over Rhanna (1990) 252:
' ... Surely Mr James wouldny have told on me, he didny say eechie or ochie at the time or make me feel I had committed a sin.' Ags. 1990:
Nivver said eechie or ochie: He was quite non-committal.

Phr.: to say eechie (eechty) to someone's ochie (ochty), to contradict.Per. 1888 R. Ford Glentoddy 88:
I never said eechie to your ochie in a' my life, sir; for ye ken what's what far better than I do, an' I'll e'en gang as ye airt me.Abd. 1913 D. Scott Hum. Sc. Stories 16:
No, sir, excuse me sayin eechty ta your ochty, bit A dinna care for that kin o' things.