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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Roche, n. Also: rotche, roch. [ME and e.m.E. roche (c1250), e.m.E. also roch, roach, OF roche (c980 in Larousse), late L. rocca. See also Rok n.²]

1. A rocky eminence; a cliff; a crag; a reef.Also, a rock surrounded by sea.Freq. in alliterative passages or phrases describing a loud and re-echoing sound.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 785.
In the hycht of that ilke roche, Quhare man na beste mycht nocht aproche 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 34.
Gif a wilde hors or than a hede strang hors ony man rydand on him againnis his will our a roch cast him 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 2775.
Ane cuntre … full of rochis & montangneze Ib. 2853.
The … citie standis hie vpoun ane roche a1500 Henr. Fab. 2618 (Bann.).
A revere Discending fra a roch [H. rotche] out of a well c1475 Wall. vi 804. 1494 Loutfut MS 33b.
And thairfor wilfully he haldis him … in the labry [= shelter] of roches for the heit of the son 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1300.
Bot ane passage ingraue Hewin in the roche of slid, hard marbell stone c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 15.
Rochis sould ryfe 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 61.
Our craggis and the front of rochis seir, Hang gret ische schouchlis lang as ony speir 1531 Bell. Boece I lii.
Amang the rochis and craggis … growis ane maner of electuar and goum, hewit like gold Ib. xxx. 1533 Boece 265b.
Hengist … circumducing the samyn [thong] about ane strenthy roche … resauit ane place convenient for his castell 1535 Stewart 18958.
Tha … houfit baith vpoune ane roche of stane Arundel MS 257/58.
Hillis schuke & rochis claif a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 296 (W).
I did approche Hard to the river and the roche(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 1517.
The … empriour … lichtit on the roch of Fair Ib. 1573.
And ȝonder I se on roch Balaas The King of Grece and Damas(3) 1513 Doug. v iii 41.
Standis a roch in the see, Forgane the … costis hie Ib. xiv 70.
With this almaste thai careit ar infeir Onto the rochis and skelleis 1533 Boece 319b.
The Bas (ane castell in Loutheane … apoun ane hiech roche) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1570.
As … The Alpis, and rochis in the seis, Rycht so, the rochis gret and gray, Quhilk standis into Norroway(4) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 914.
The rochis reirdit vith the rasch, quhen thai samyne rane c1475 Wall. viii 1191.
The cler rede amang the rochis rang c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 240.
The rochis all resownyt wyth the rak c1515 The Scottish Field 634 in Chetham Society (Old Series) XXXVII (1856) ii 21.
All rang with that rowte, Roches and other 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 637.
The birdis sounde, Quhilk doith agane thy [sc. Snowdon's] royall roche redounde 1535 Stewart 12325.
The clarione clynkit quhill the rochis rang c1552 Lynd. Mon. 200. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 47 (W).
Throwe hir voce the roches rang, And Ecchoe answerit aye 1604-31 Craig ii 153.

b. A massy fragment of stone; a boulder. 1513 Doug. iii viii 135.
Sum tyme it [sc. Etna] rasyt gret rochys … And lowsyt stanys vpwarpys in the ayr c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3919.
That [sc. Christ's] blude royall on roches ran

2. attrib. in roche crag, consisting of rock; rocky.Cf. roch Ruch adj. 5, with which there is possible ambiguity. 1513 Doug. xii xi 153.
Like as the gret roch crag with a sovn From the top of sum montan tumlyt doun [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I xlvii.
This ile is circulit on every side with roche craggis 1549 Compl. 38/28.
Quhil the … rotche craggis ansuert vitht ane hie not