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: 1750, 1915-1923
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CUTCHACK, Cutchach, Coutchack, Cutchock, Cutchick, n. A small, blazing fire, of coal or peat (Bnff.10 1914, cutchick, Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 317, cutchock, Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems, Gl., cutchack); “the clearest part of a fire” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., coutchack; 1825 Jam.2, cutchach); the fireside (Abd.28 1948). [′kutʃək(x), ′kʌtʃək(x)]Bnff. 1923 Yarn in Bnffsh. Jnl. (30 Dec.) 6:
I'm . . . able to dee little else than sit by the cutchick and tak' a loop o' the shank at my ain leyzer.Abd.(D) c.1750 R. Forbes Jnl. from London (1755) 27:
As guid a pint-ale's man as ere beeked his fit at the coutchack o' a browster wife's ingle.Abd.(D) 1915 H. Beaton Back o' Benachie 47:
I wis thinkin' I wid be nae eese bit sit at th' cutchack, for ma han' wis unco dweeble.
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"Cutchack n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/cutchack>
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