Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡THRATCH, v., n. Also ¶thrack. [θrɑtʃ]
I. v. 1. To twist the body about, to struggle, writhe, specif. in the death-agony (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai., Abd. 1972). Ppl.adj. thratched, twisted, convulsed, contorted.Abd. 1737 W. Meston Poet. Wks. (1802) 112:
She thratches, trembles, and she groans, And falls down on her hurkle bones.n.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 245:
Graenin in mortal agony, Their steeds were thratchin near.Ags. a.1823 G. Beattie Poems 177:
I'll gar ye gape, and glowr, an' gollar, An' thratch an' thraw for want o' breath.Cai. 1829 J. Hay Poems 91:
Its beard was white, and lank its face, Bearing a pale and thratch'd grimace.
2. To eat in a squeamish manner (Ags. 1921 T.S.D.C., Ags. 1972).
3. To get by importunity (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.).
II. n. The struggles or convulsive spasms of the death-agony (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.); a jerk, twist of the body; a throe (Bnff. 1972).Sc. 1702 Seafield Corresp. (S.H.S.) 349:
[He] imedetly closed his eys and expayred without any thrack or vielent moshon.Abd. 1885 J. Scorgie Flittin' Noo 60:
When I gie mysel' a thratch, It aften stops an' stan's an 'oor.Abd. 1913–25:
The death thratch, the thratches o' death, the death throes.Abd. 1941 Bon-Accord (27 Nov.) 12:
I niver gae a thratch, bit roared tae the Mistress tae fesh a ledder.Abd. 1957 People's Jnl. (12 Jan.):
Aw wis in the thratches o' lumbagie.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 15:
the craw's richt, famine rooks the land
and ilka cratur's in a thratch frae need.
