Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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‡CURCH, KURCH, Curtch, Kirch, n. A covering for the head, a kerchief (Sc. 1771 T. Pennant Tour in Scot. 1769 165, kirch, Abd.⁹ 1941). Also in form curtsch (n.Sc. 1814 Anon. Illustrations North. Antiquities 423). Also dims. curchie, curchea, and curtsey (Sc. a.1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs (2nd ed.) II. 136). [kʌrtʃ, kɪ̢rtʃ]Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace 12:
A sudled Curch o'er Head and Neck [she] let fall, A white worn Hat then birsed on withal.Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 126:
A siller broach he gae me neist, To fasten on my curchea nooked.Sc. 1814 M. Brunton Discipline III. 282 Note B:
Some of these good women generally "busk the bride's first curch." The hair . . . is . . . rolled tightly up on a wooden bodkin. . . . It is then covered with the curch, a square piece of linen doubled diagonally, and passed round the head close to the forehead. Young women fasten the ends behind; the old wear them tied under the chin. The corner behind hangs loosely down.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 9:
As onie kurch his hair baith white and lang, Like tap of lint down o'er his shoulders hang.Fif.¹⁰ c.1900:
Ye never saw the auld body wi'oot her curch at kirk or market.Peb. 1793 Carlop Green (ed. R. D. C. Brown 1832) ii. 41:
And gutchers granein', wi' grannies, In wigs and curtches clean.Kcb. 1814 J. Train Mountain Muse 67:
A cloud of bonnets here is seen, With hoods and curchies white between.