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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WAUCH, adj., n. Also waugh; wauf(f) (s.Sc.). [wɑx, wǫx; s.Sc. wǫf]

I. adj. 1. (1) Of a taste or smell: unpleasant, stale, musty, unappetising (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 208; Bnff., Abd., Ags. 1973). Also in n.Eng. dial. Hence waughness, an insipid taste (Abd. 1973); see a.1838 quot. Comb. waugh-tastit, having a bad taste (Abd. 1973).Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Journal 24:
It [ale] had an ugly knaggim, an' a wauch wa-gang.Sc. 1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon & Gael III. xv.:
I think she'll no put owre this night. The wauch earth smell is about her already.Ork. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 345:
This term is used in a very singular phrase, common in Ork. waughness in sponses, expl. “dryness in one's nostrils.”Ags. 1857 A. Douglas Ferryden 120:
It has an awfu' wauch taste wi't.Bnff. 1860 Banffshire Jnl. (24 April) 3:
In a wauch droukit plaid to be drabbl'd a' day.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xi.:
Soot amang them, I'm thinkin', or some ither confoondit waugh-tastit graith.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 17:
There's a damp, waugh, nesty smell here.Abd. 1963 J. C. Milne Poems 46:
Gie's a kiss! G'wa ye gock! Fat's adee? A wauch mou!

(2) Of food, cooking, etc.: tasteless, unappetising (Ags. 1926; Abd., Ags. 1973); not nourishing, unsubstantial. Also in n.Eng. dial.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 154:
They wad gang to bed wi' sic a wauf wamefu'.Gall. 1905 Gallovidian VII. 31:
“But look at the folk that suppit treacle an sma yill to their parritch, ay, an some o them took sugar and water.” “Wauf kitchen that, Jamie.”Abd. 1931 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 22:
Wir brochan may be unco wauch For toon-born quines an' laddies.

(3) Of persons: having a dry, disagreeable taste in the mouth (Mry. 1930). Also wauchie, id., esp. after a drinking bout (Id.).

2. Unwell, faint, weak, weary (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 208; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 207; Dmf. c.1920), dispirited. Also in n.Eng. dial.Mry. 1875 W. H. L. Tester Select Poems 6:
Wauch, wearied, wayward, wandering Willie La.Dmf. 1921 T. G. Gracie Songs 99:
Think I'll faint — I'm unco wauff!Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie In Two Tongues 35:
And wauch and disjaskit He'll nae mair ask it. But lea' her for ever . . .

Derivs.: ¶(1) wallachie, pale, sickly-looking, sallow (see etym. note); (2) wauchie, -y, (i) id. (Lnk. 1825 Jam.). Also in n.Eng. dial.; (ii) weak, feeble; (iii) see 1. (3) above; (3) waufish, unwell, unsettled.(1) Nai. c.1930:
She's afa wallachie the day.(2) (i) Sc. 1819 Scots Mag. (June) 528:
A laithsome fiend stude at his side Wi' wauchie cheek an' wauland ee.(ii) Kcb. 1825 W. Nicholson Poems (1897) 78:
On his wauchie arms three claws did meet As they trail'd on the grun' by his taeless feet.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Sc. 50:
Cain's, amang his wauchy wisps [of corn], Smoor'd in a smochy drow.(3) s.Sc. 1933 Border Mag. (July) 111:
I canna get it oot o' my heid. It's made me fair waufish the day.

3. Good-for-nothing, useless, worthless, feeble. Also used subst., a worthless character. In this sense phs. confused with Waff, adj., 2.Ags. 1812 R. Wighton Beggar's Son 41:
“Would you gie's a slice o' ham?” “Hams are no for trailin' wauchies.”Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Waugh fouk, loose or disorderly people.Ags. 1883 J. Kennedy Poems 104:
To think that weel-born bairn o' hers Would turn a waugh play-actor.Ags. 1897 G. A. Mackay Where the Heather Grows 163:
Gae wa, ye cuif. Ye're the wauchest chiel wi' the lasses I ever saw.Abd.¹³ 1910:
A workin' wife maks a wauch dother.

II. n. An unpleasant smell (Abd. 1913); a bad taste in the mouth (Mry. 1925).