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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ERCHIE, Airchie n..  A Sc. diminutive of Archie, Archibald. Used with reference to a person who is very pleased with himself; a conceited person.Abd. 1989:
Wi ma new suit oan, awa at the dancin — Ah thoat Ah wis Erchie.Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 18:
Mi first pay wis £5 10 shillings and that wis a guid working man's wage. I felt like Airchie. The only thing wrang wi it, wis that I didnae get oot tae spend it.m.Sc. 1991:
They a' think they're Erchie in Edinburgh.Dundee 2000 Courier 3 Mar :
"I hope that you have not finished with 'Erchie' yet, as that phrase was quite common when I was a boy 50 years ago," comments Mr Harry Tawse of Dundee. "If I remember correctly, the phrase was 'He thinks he's Erchie, but he wouldn't make a patch for Erchie's Erchie!' Take out of that what you will!"Dundee 2000 Courier 21 Mar :
A Dundee reader would dearly like to know the identity of the "Erchie" who inspired the phrase, "He thinks he's Erchie", a comment designed to mock and belittle someone who is full of his own importance.
"I used to think the phrase was part of the Dundee patois, but I've since learned that it is also used in Perth and in Glasgow.
"Perhaps your readers can solve the mystery."Ags. 2000 Courier 22 Mar :
In answer to the query as to who was the "Erchie" who inspired the phrase "He thinks he's Erchie", a comment designed to mock and belittle someone who is full of his own importance, I have heard from Mr R. H. Dewar of Forfar.
He offers various suggestions, the first being that is may come from the prefix 'arch' as in archbishop and archvillain, meaning pre-eminent in a particular sphere.