Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1722-1814, 1900
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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.
