Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RATCHEL, adj. Used with intensive force in phr. ratchel nonsense, complete, utter nonsense (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Adv. ratchelly, very, extremely (Ork. 1967, ratchelly hungry, -tired, etc.).
[Orig. obscure. Phs. a deriv. form of Radge with extended meaning.]