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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

VANQUISH, v., n. Also Sc. forms vinquish, -kish, vincus; winkish. Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. To exhaust, tire out, gen. in ppl.adj. vincust.Ags. 1905 E.D.D.:
We've been fair vincust the hail day wi' the kye comin' in amo' the corn.

2. To deceive, cajole, get round (a person) (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 210, winkish).

3. In ppl.adj. vinkished, of sheep: affected with the disease referred to in II. (Dmf. 1973).

II. n. A disease in sheep, now known to be caused by cobalt deficiency (Sc. 1807 Hogg Shep. Guide 68; Gall. 1829 Quarterly Jnl. Agric. II. 697; Ayr. 1950 Coll. Ayr. Arch. & Nat. Hist. Soc. I. 118; Ayr., sm.Sc. 1973).Kcb. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VII. 518:
In one or two farms, a disease also prevails, termed the vanquish. It arises from feeding on dry barren moss, void of all nourishment, to which the creatures are so attached that they will not leave it till they die of emaciation. In this disease the horns usually become red.Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr 488:
The vanquish, as it is the effect of starvation, is remedied by turning the sheep on better pasture.Kcb. 1880 J. Maxwell Sheep-marks xxxi.:
Pining or Vanquish as the word implies, means a more or less rapid wasting or loss of flesh.