Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
REACH, v. Also reetch, raech. To strain in an attempt to vomit, to retch (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.). Gen.Sc. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. [ritʃ; Sh. rætʃ]Sh. 1899 Shetland News (21 Jan.):
I raech'd laek a dug.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 35:
Straining. Bouking and reachin' when the stomach is on the heave.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iii.:
That hard hoast . . . an' a' yon cowkin an' reetchin.Gsw. 1972 Molly Weir Best Foot Forward (1974) 51:
The magic didn't work for me. I still 'reached' and 'boked' in misery. Edb. 1999:
There's nothin worse than reachin tae be seeck oan an empty stomach.
