Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SOCHER, v., adj. Also saugher, Derivs. socrach, ¶sotrach. [′sǫxər]
I. v. To pamper or cosset oneself, to be fussy about one's health (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rnf. 1958); to move or carry on in a sluggish spiritless manner, to dawdle about without method or purpose (Sc. 1818 Sawers, saugher). Freq. in ppl.adj. saughrin, -an, lacking in energy, inactive, sluggish, soft and flaccid in character or action (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 244).Sc. 1818 Sawers:
One who takes too much care of himself, is called a saughrin creature.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 106:
An' just a set o' saughrin' chields Wha mak the siller maist.Abd. 1845 T. Denham Poems 185:
He's neither eechie nor ochie, but jaest a saughrin, doitrified-like scoun'rel wi' ae e'e!Rnf. 1862 A. M'Gilvray Poems 281:
Man, dinna sit socherin'; Get up, in gude's name, frae your b-m.Gsw. 1863 W. Miller Nursery Songs 45–6:
If folk wad be cautious when takin' a drappy, . . . . An' dinna be sochrin' frae July to June wi't.Slg. 1885 A. Murray Poems 64:
Wheen saughrin' maudrins hae pretence To gumption, smergh, an' smeddum.
II. adj. 1. Lazy, effeminate, inactive from delicate living (n.Sc. 1825 Jam., socher). Deriv. †socrach, †sotrach, used subst. for a good-natured easy-going person (Arg. 1936 L. McInnes S. Kintyre 12, obs.).
2. In deriv. form socrach, dry, reserved (Bnff. 1920).
[Of Gael. orig., two words having become confused in Sc., viz. socair [′soxkɪr], n., adj., calm, ease, quietness, tranquil, quiet, adj. socrach, sedate, not easily ruffled, comfortable, and sochar [′soxər], softness, compliance, indulgence, socharach, bashful, shy.]
