A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1610
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Cach(e, Catch(e, v.1 Also: kach; p.t. and p.p. cachit, cacchit, cacheit; catchit. [ME. cache, kache, cacche, etc., OF. cachier, northern dial. variant of chacier Chase v. In Sc. chiefly in verse, prob. after English use.]
1. tr. To chase, drive.Very frequently used by Douglas, esp. in the p.p.(a) a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 206.
All the suynis awnaris … Afferd the fulis had thame kachit As to steill thame away 1513 Doug. i. i. 4.
Our land and see cachit [jactatus] with mekle pyne 1513 Ib. ii. vi. 38.
The fury cachit our myndis hait as fyre 1513 Ib. iv. v. 126; etc.
The pail sawlis he cachis furth of hell a1568 Scott v. 36.
Sum with houndis The hairis owtthrowch the forrestis cachis 1562-3 Winȝet II. 53/17.
With quhou grete troublous blastis ar thai cacheit and careit(b) 1513 Doug. xii. vi. 70.
Turnus … Amyd the batale catchys to the fycht Hys stedys 1513 Ib. xiii. v. 31.
Quhy has thou … Into so gret perellys … Me catchit thus a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxxi. 27.
Albeit. from cair to cair thou catche my hairt in coup c1590 J. Stewart II. 226/2.
All those … Our craig and cleuch than catchit cam agast 1602 Reg. Great S. 475/1.
Ane commoun gait and lone to catche and call guidis [= cattle]
2. To go upon, follow (a way); to guide (a course). a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 42.
Sa come ane … earll chachand [sic] the gait With ane capill a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1220.
Sen fortoune cachis the cours, throu hir quentys
3. intr. To make one's way; to proceed, go. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 33.
He cachit fra the court a1500 Ib. 382.
He … catchit on his way 1600-1610 Melvill 489.
That mater of the ministerie of Edinbruche keipit me catching heir an ther all that winter
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"Cach v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/cache_v_1>
