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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.

Hoch, Houch(e, v. Also: hoche, hogh(e, hough(e. P.t. and p.p. hocht, hoch(e)it, hoched; hoght, hoghed; houcht, howcht, houchit; hought, houghed; howche. [ME. how(g)hyn (c 1440), e.m.E. hogh, hough, f. Hochn.] tr. To disable by cutting the tendons of the hough in man or (usually) beast; to hamstring, hough.(1) 1533 Boece xiv. xv. 570 b.
At entering to the camp thai fand … v Inglismen hochit and left for dede a1578 Pitsc. I. 299/29.
The laird of Keir … was … left lyand for deid, hocht of his legis(2) 1558 Inverness Sheriff Ct. 61.
The said … howcht, slew, and distroyit xxiiij new calwit ky 1562 Peebles B. Rec. I. 283.
At the quhilk tyme the said James be himself and his complices ... howche and slew the oxin 1563 Crim. Trials I. 431.
Cietineris of Brechine … schamefullie hocht and slew thair gudis and scheip 1581 Acts III. 217/1.
Sindrie wikit personis … ceissis not to hoch and slay oxin and horses 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI. 43.
Gif euir he streikit ane pleuch thairin thairefter … they sould hoche his oxin 1607 Melrose P. 31.
Johnne Dow M^c Gillichallum … hes hocheit and goirit … aucht scoir of nolt 1629 Red Bk. Menteith II. 86.
The rebell had killed or hoghed abone thrie score plough oxen 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 566.
Hogheing, killing and away taking … ane hundereth kowes 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 6.
Some syths had, men and horse to hough

b. fig. To deprive of support; to put out of action, put a stop to. 1600-1610 Melvill 123.
He bosted that he wald houche Mr Andro, with mikle mair daft talk 1638 Baillie I. 79.
Mr Rutherfoord … felles all the fourteen bishops and hoghes the ceremonies 1651 Nicoll Diary 65.
Religioun and justice being the twa pilleris of the land, they [sc. the people] wer hoght and neir drawin doun 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 357.
They … were hopefull to hough Melvill, and defeat all his Presbiterian projects 1692 Presb. Eloq. (ed. 2) 77.
Thy leg to my leg, and we shall hough down Bellarmine even now

c. transf. To chop down (a hedge). 1628 Linlithgow B. Rec. 22 Feb.
He sould hoch the hedge betuix him and James Will