Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HOCH, int., v.2 Also houch, hough, hooch. [hox]
I. int. An exclamation akin to a sigh, gen. expressive of weariness, regret or disapproval (Uls. 1953 Traynor; Abd. 1957).Sc. 1827 G. R. Kinloch Ballads 23:
Hoch! had I drank the well-water, Whan first I drank the wine.Mry. 1865 W. H. L. Tester Poems 108:
Hooch, Sammy, hooch, man, there's naething like siller.Fif. 1895 S. Tytler Macdonald Lass vi.:
Houch! it is us who will be just there.
Phrs. and Combs.: 1. hoch anee, an exclamation of grief. Cf. Ochanee; 2. hoch ay(e), an expression of assent, connoting impatience or resignation (Abd. 1957); 3. hochee, hoch-hey (-how-hum), an exclamation of weariness or sadness, equivalent to a sigh, and sometimes accompanying a yawn (Abd. 1920); 4. hoch-ho, a cry of admiration or surprise (Abd.4 1933, Abd. 1957); 5. hoch-wow, = 3.1. Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 272:
And she broke her heart, and's now in her grave, Sad, sad news — Hoch Anee!2. Sc. 1874 A. Hislop Sc. Anecdotes 324:
O, hoch, ay! but thank gudeness, Providence in his mercy has ta'en awa' the stammack tae.Dmf. 1912 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo 110:
Hoch, ay, it wad juist be that.3. Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 49:
Hoch hey, will I never win out o' this weery'd life.Ayr. a.1851 A. Aitken Poems (1873) 30:
An' after a lang hoch-hey an' grane, He said “I am vex'd, an' amaz'd.”Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 217:
Resting his two elbows on his knees, [he] gave utterance to a prolonged “Hoch-hey.”5. Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Musings 139:
Hoch, wow! I'm unco dune the nicht, My puir auld banes are achin'.
II. v. To exclaim hoch, to give a weary sigh when on the point of awakening. Used fig. in quot.Ags. 1893 A. Reid Heatherland 50:
Winter hochs an' heaves.
