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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HAUCHLE, v., n. Also ha(i)ghle, haghel, hachle, hachel, haughle. [hǫxl]

I. v. To walk slowly and clumsily with dragging feet, shuffle, limp (Lth., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Per., m.Lth., Ayr., Uls. 1956); to walk as if carrying a heavy burden (Upp. Lnk. 1825 Jam.). Hence ppl.adj. hauchlin, slovenly (Mearns Ib.) and vbl.n. hachelin, a slow-witted person, “a know nothing” (Tyr. 1931 North. Whig (7 Dec.) 9). Cf. Hechle.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 149:
Like a lady from the country, . . . with her elbows into her sides, her two hands streight out before her, holding the fan out likeways, as if she was to red her way by it, and hagheling, as if she thought all her pitecots were coming off.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 114:
What needs ye gang hauchlin an' hirplin alang, like crupple Dick upon a stick?s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xxix.:
I dinna ken but what I'd maist as lief be cauld-dead as gae haghlin' through life wantin' an airm.

II. n. Applied to a person: a slut, a sloven (Ayr. 1825 Jam., hachel; Tyr. 1929 per Uls.², haughle); to work: a bungled or botched piece of work (Kcb.⁴ 1900).Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xlix.:
A gipsey's character, a hachel's slovenliness, and a waster's want.