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.
Quotation dates: 1702-1737, 1806-1829, 1885-1988
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‡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.
