Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1739, 1812-1832, 1912
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WINCH, v., n.1 Sc. form = Eng. wince.
I. v. 1. To wince, recoil, start back. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 441:
Let us enjoy'd at any rate, And winch not 'neath the lash of fate.
2. To kick, prance. Used tr. in 1812 quot. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. Hence ¶winchaboot, a cow's tail, in the riddle quoted below.Fif. 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair 75:
Each old wife in Fife's full-peopled shire Should frolic round her bard and wince a tott'ring reel.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man (1972) xii.:
The horse wincing and screaming all the while.ne.Sc. 1832 P. Buchan Secret Songs 3:
An' Oh gin ye cou'd bake me bannocks As well as ye can winch an' wannock.Gall. 1912 Rymour Club Misc. II. 21:
Fowre upsta'ners, fowre deedlean'ers, Twae lookies, twae crookies And a winchaboot?
II. n. A wince, a start (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 502:
Poor Petry gae a weary winch, He couldna do but baun.
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"Winch v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/winch>
