A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Leching, Leiching, vbl. n. Also: leych-, leach-, leech- and -eing, -ine, -yng. [North. and midl. ME. lech(e)ing, early lechunge, OE. lǽcung: Leche v. After the 15th c. appar. only Sc.] Treatment or attention by a leech (Leche n.1), medical or (chiefly) surgical treatment. Also fig.(a) 1375 Barb. xiii. 46.
Thai [arrows] left eftir thame taknyng That sall neid as I trow lechyng ?1438 Alex. i. 1314. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 50.
The strok he feillis of melancholie, And Nobilnes lecheing lyis in thé 1533 Gau 7/22.
As it is neidful … to ane seik man … to knaw quhair he cane get lechine and help to mak hime hail agane 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 77.
For leching of ane Thomas Cok, quha wes hurt be ane Franismanfig. 1533 Gau 8/3.
Faith leris al man quhair thay sal … find help and lechine of thair spiritual seiknes(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 23.
Of tuenty woundis, and ane be left unhelit Quhat awalis the leiching of the laif? 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 168.
To pay the barbour for the leyching of the said barrowne 1553 Treas. Acc. X. 185.
To Robert Hammiltoun, messinger, to pay for leiching of his arme a1578 Pitsc. I. 209/15.
The … preist … speirit at the Kingis grace gif he might leif gif he had good leiching 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 134.
His bairn, schorn of the stain, [to] be commendit to the help of the parochin for payment of his leiching(c) a1689 Cleland 76.
Down he fell … into the well: Our country dames must try the leaching[(d) a1500 Sir Eger 1273.
Here such leeching there was none c1650 Sir Cawline vii. in Child Ballads (1885) II. 58/1.
Sir Cawline's sicke and like to be dead Without and a good leedginge]
b. To ly in (intill) leiching, = under medical treatment.a1500 Sir Eger 590.]
[Eleven weeks … Sir Eger there in leeching lay Brus xv. 84 (H).
To the Montpeleris went he syne, And lay thair lang in-till leeching 1610 Dundonald Par. Rec. 210.
Marioun Shav nov lying in leiching of the grandgor in Kilmaris
c. attrib. Leeching-craft, = Lechecraft n.a1500 Sir Eger 1732.
His daughter … Of leeching craft she is right slee
