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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Slouch(e, Sluch(e, n. Also: sloucht, slough, slowch, slucht, slugh, sluth, slwche, sluich(e. [ME and e.m.E. slugh(t (Cursor M., a1400-50), slow (Rolle), slough (1486), ME also slohu, slouȝe (Cursor M.), slouh (Rolle), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to LG slu(we husk, peel, shell. Also in the later dial.]

1. An outer covering, skin, husk or shell, also, specif. the (shed) skin of a snake. Also in fig. context.(a) c1500 Rowll Cursing 224 (M).
And sum ar sneth and sum ar rouch And sum ar lyk ane serpentis slouche 1513 Doug. ii viii 60.
The edder … slippit hir slowch [Sm. sloucht, Ruddim. sloucht] with schynand skyn new brerd 1609 Garden Garden 54.
Flesh, blood, and bones (the slouchs … Of the restrained and imprisond sperit) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 129/142.
& guylefull hope of uindlstre that is but ane emptie slouche c1660–70 Sel. Biog. I 265.
The sweet kirnell of the blessing under the sour slough that is without(b) a1568 Bann. MS 223b/11.
Ȝe haif the ȝok, with me remanis the slwche 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 43/5.
Some … haue thought themselues … woolfes … but as to their … hard & schellie sluiches [v.r. sloughes] I take that to be but eiked, by vncertaine report 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 1.
It [sc. the silk-worm] leaues the slugh of silk for the ornament of mankinde

2. A cataract (on, of, over the eye). Also in fig. context. Also transf.(1) 1513 Doug. ii x 83.
The clowd of dyrknes … That on ȝour mortell eyn, … Lyke to ane watry slowch standis dym about 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V 137.
The curing of … the cataract or sluch of the eye 1699 Edinb. Gazette 20-23 March.
A blew-gray mare … a slough over her near eye(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 148.
Sin … casts a slough over the eye of our faithtransf. a1599 Rollock Wks. I 385.
Thair is na creature … that can tak aff the slouch of thy hart to let thee see

3. A suit of clothes. 1581–2 Elgin Rec. I 165.
John Beig tailȝour in Elgin … to pay … thre schillingis four penneis for ane sluch of clais 1587 St. A. Test. II 86.
Levis to … Dauid Watsoun … ane sluth of his best clething 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II 163.
To Alexander Checkum, commoun poist, fyve pundis to help to by him a slucht of blew