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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FLATCH, v., n. Also flatsh, fla(a)ch; flatj (Jak.). Deriv. flatchie.

I. v. 1. To flatten, press down flat (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh.¹⁰ 1952); to fold down, “a term used by mechanics” (Lth. 1808 Jam.; Peb. 1951); to knock down, to strike to the ground (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh.¹⁰ 1952). Ppl.adj. flatshet, very flat, “not handsome or suitable on account of flatness” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. II. 2:
Wan time dey hae a thing flaached doon ipu der heads laek a mutch.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 106:
Wisna he set his fit apon a rotten maasguum it wis driven ashore, an' flatched him laek a pancake.

2. To walk clumsily (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., flatsh, 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh.¹⁰ 1952).

II. n. Anything large and flat (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1952). Adj. flatshi, flat, paddle-shaped. Extended to mean a large spreading piece of something; any low-lying flat piece of ground (Sh.¹¹ 1951, flatchie).Peb. 1875 W. Welsh Peb. Cotter 34:
Ilk lad his watch dress'd wi' a flatch O' ribbands frae his lady.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sk. and Poems 68:
He . . . hed a face laek a ashit, an ' a flatch o' a nose.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. II. 145:
A great flach o a thing laek a ten-year-owld kishie.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 16. 9:
Hit's a fleein' krab! He gengs taerin trow da wattir wi' yun hint flatshi klaas o' his.

Used adv. = with a flat smack.Peb. 1875 W. Welsh Peb. Cotter 10:
Flatch I fell upon my face Out o'er a muckle sod