Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BOOTCH, Boutch, Bouch, n., v. [butʃ Sc.; bʌutʃ Ags.]
1. n. “A botch, bungle, muddle” (w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6; Ayr.4 1928). Gen.Sc.Hdg.1 1935:
The coof's made a raiglur bootch o't.
2. v. “To botch, bungle, muddle” (w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6; Hdg.1 1935; Ayr.4 1928). Also fig.Hdg. 1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons, etc. 120:
The ditch they coupit in's an open trap, An' should have been fill'd in whan motors cam'. O'Rourke himsel', they say, was bouch'd in it!
Hence bootcher, boutcher, “a botcher, bungler, muddler” (w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6).
[Phs. from Mid.Du. butsen, to beat, patch up. Eng. botch, to patch, is by some regarded as the same word as botch, a swelling, O.Norman Fr. boche, allied to Eng. boss.]
