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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SKECH, v., n. Also skaich, skegh, skaigh, scaigh; skeach, skeech, skeich; schech. [skeç, skiç]

I. v. 1. tr. and absol. To obtain a thing in an indirect, underhand or furtive manner, by wiles, wheedling or filching, to scrounge, cadge, purloin (Cld., Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; ne.Sc., Ags., Fif., w. and sm.Sc., Rxb. 1970), freq. of wandering about in search of food, to scrounge a meal (Sc. 1880 Jam.; Edb. 1897 W. Beatty Secretar xviii., schech). Deriv. skaicher, skaigher, one who skechs, a scrounger, sponger (Cld. 1825 Jam.; Ags. 1910 Arbroath Guide (18 Aug.), applied playfully to a child (Ags. 1808 Jam., Mry. 1970).Lnk. 1827 J. Watt Poems 98:
Fox what he'd skech'd fu' keen devourin'.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 138:
Eppy Wabster, in her time, Was kent by a' the vagrants fine, She eest to skeigh.Per. 1881 D. MacAra Crieff 233:
It was frequently midnight or after ere the different “skeaching” parties returned.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie W. Crighton 47:
Some to sell, others to “skech” or “cadge”.wm.Sc. 1899 Mont.-Fleming s.v. Skaigher:
A man is said to “skaigh for his dinner” who calls upon a friend just at dinner-time. A skaigher is one who sponges upon his friends for an occasional meal or dram.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 38:
Lookin' aboot for onything he can skech.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 10:
A speerd if there was a mael o meat ti be bocht — skecht — gotten a len o.Abd. 1958 People's Jnl. (21 June):
She'd skaicht an' hain't ilka drap that the caufies didna' need.Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 84:
' ... We'll fill the nyaff up wi whisky an waater,
wyse up the wife intae takin a pairt,
syne whan he's dozent wi drink, it's nae maitter
tae skaigh back yer arle frae yon bunnet-laird.'

2. To go about in a silly, vain, idle manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 156; Bnff., Abd. 1970).Abd. 1968 Abd. Press & Jnl. (27 Jan.):
Syne socht news fae a glaikit loon Wha skaiched aboot the Bay.

II. n. 1. The act of skeching or scrounging, a wheedle, begging wile; what has been obtained by such means, plunder, loot (Ayr.⁴ 1928). Phr. on the skaigh, on the look-out or prowl for something (Abd., wm.Sc., Kcb. 1970).Lnk. 1889 A. MacLachlan Songs 160:
Their prayer is a' a sneakin skech.Slg. 1904 E.D.D.:
He's on the skaigh for a lass.

2. A scrounger, sponger (Abd., Kcd., Fif., wm.Sc. 1970); a truant from school.Edb. 1893 J. Baillie W. Crighton 12:
The biggest skech and meiser in the Wark.Fif. 1909 J. C. Craig Sangs o' Bairns 104:
Jock Macelly played the “sketch” For three weeks at a tack.